Lots of programs designed to increase communication through the
use of electronic health records focus on provider to provider, or hospital to
hospital communication. With this mentality comes issues involving the
compatibility of different software, secure transfer of data, and the
requirement that all providers to have an EHR system. Medicare, however, is
shifting the focus from providers to patients with the new Blue Button program.
The program, currently available from the federal government
for Medicare beneficiaries and veterans, downloads three years of a patient’s
medical history to a smartphone app which translates and displays the
information in a simple and easy to understand way, according to Kaiser Health News. Dr. Farzad
Mostashari, the coordinator for health information technology with the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) predicts that if they want it,
everyone can get this kind of information within the next year or so. Through
smartphone applications and new technologies, patients can have access to the
same information that doctors would send to each other.
Technology in the hands of consumers does have its
drawbacks. From a logistical perspective, in order for records to be downloaded
or pushed to an app, they have to be electronic. According to a 2012 study by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while 72 percent of office
based physicians use an EHR system, only 40 percent of practices have a system
the meets the definition of at least “basic” requirements.
There are also
obvious security concerns. Apps available would be through third party companies
and vendors. This means that another party, or company, could have access to
patient records. Additionally, the patient could lose access to their data if
the company goes out of business or the app stops working. Patient information
also isn’t covered under federal privacy and security rules, meaning that
anyone should read the app privacy agreement very carefully. Specific things to
look for in the agreement can be found in this article. Finally, incomplete EHRs on the apps could
lead to dangerous situations, since doctors might not get the full picture.
If done right, EHR
apps have the capability to do a lot of good, but there are a lot of reasons to
proceed with caution.
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