Should providers control data access for EHR development system?

Patients are not the owners of EHRs, so how much control should be given to them?

Electronic health records EHR development systems are the hub of highly sensitive and personal data of the patients. Ranging from illness to emotional statuses, there are certain records that don’t belong to the patient. This raises a question in healthcare staff’s mind: how much access control should be given to patients over their own records?

EHR development systems are most precious tools used for collecting data in healthcare sector. This collected data is further used by government agencies, researchers, marketing agents or firms, and for-profit data brokers. Due to present shareable behavior of electronic health data, the risk of hacking is increased and patients feel insecure because of little or no control over data.

At times it feels like you have gone out for vacation and have given your home keys to 20 more individuals. This should not be like this and patient should have control over their personal data and it should be shared when needed. But the reality is patients are surprised on data share; moreover they lose control over their personal information.

As per doctors and physicians, consumers don’t “own” their health records because these are being shared at different platforms by different people. The creator of health record, i.e. hospital or clinic controls the data record for practices. Patients often see many healthcare practitioners – from primary care physician to hospital doctor, everyone uses earlier referring doctor’s record and generates a copy for his own EHR development system for the patient.

Without patient participation, there are many people who can misuse the medical test reports and patients could bear hefty bills. In the study, it has been revealed that patients often communicate with their doctors over telephone and use other different modes less for interaction purposes. This telephonic interaction is done for booking appointment and making visits or sometimes for sharing regular health information. Due to this, patients get confidence

that they are directly interacting and so no data will get leaked to third party because online data sharing could be more risky than telephonic conversation.

This control offers peace of mind to the patients as they know their personal data is secured and in right hands.