[Med-privacy] EMRs & privacy

Thu, 30 Jun 2005 12:19:32 -0700

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  Confidentiality fear over records
  By Nick Triggle
  BBC News health reporter in Manchester

  Doctors fear the computerisation of medical records could threaten=20
patient confidentiality.

  In future records will be stored on a national database, which will=20
allow staff to access information wherever someone is treated.

  However, doctors are concerned the system, part of the NHS's =A36.2bn =
IT=20
upgrade, could be open to abuse.

  The issue was debated at the British Medical Association conference in=20=

Manchester.

  BMA survey results
  75% of patients would not mind their health information being held on=20=

a central database
  75% had concerns about the security of information
  81% were worried about accessibility by people other than the=20
healthcare professionals providing their care
  93% said the public should be fully consulted about the proposals=20
before they are finalised

  A survey released by the BMA on Thursday shows members of the public=20=

recognise the potential value of the new system - but many are=20
seriously concerned about its security.

  Dr Richard Vautrey, a GP from Leeds and lead for IT on the BMA's GP=20
committee, said: "Doctors have a fundamental duty to protect the=20
confidentiality of the information that patients tell them.

  "And many doctors remained concerned that we seem to be sleepwalking=20=

into a system where a significant amount of personal and medical=20
information is held on a national database without either us or=20
patients fully understanding the long-term implications."

  Dr Vautrey said there was an urgent need for a public debate about the=20=

changes, both about the amount of information that is held on the=20
system, and how patients could opt out without compromising access to=20
healthcare.

  Built-in safeguards

  He acknowledged the system had securities built in.

  But he added: "An IT system is only as secure as its weakest link.

  "There are access controls so that doctors or other health=20
professionals can only access what information is relevant.

  "For example, if a consultant is treating someone for a stomach=20
complaint there is probably no need for them to know the person has had=20=

an abortion.

  "But our fears are that people will share their access controls, or=20
others will hack into the system for commercial gain."

  However, Dr Vautrey said there were many benefits to the upgrade,=20
which will link GPs and hospitals, transforming the way the NHS works.

  As well as the electronic records, the system will allow patients to=20=

book hospital appointments online at GP surgeries and create an=20
electronic prescription system.

  He added he would like to see the information held on the electronic=20=

records system restricted to only the most critical data.

  Speaking in the debate, GP John Canning said: "The profession is held=20=

together by core values and one of these is confidentiality and we are=20=

in danger of removing that."

  But Dr Grant Kelly, a member of the BMA's council and GP, warned: "If=20=

we are seen to be restricting the sharing of data we have a problem."

  More secure

  Dr Simon Eccles, an A&E doctor working with the Department of Health=20=

on implementing the new system, said security had been taken extremely=20=

seriously.

  "The security measures that have been put in place are greater than=20
those in the banking industry."

  Dr Eccles said every time anybody looked at a record it would be=20
logged.

  "I couldn't look up your blood test just on a whim. There are access=20=

controls that ensure I have a relationship with that patient.

  "That is much more secure than the present system using paper."

Story from BBC NEWS:
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/4633213.stm

  Published: 2005/06/29 12:22:02 GMT

  =A9 BBC MMV=

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<bold><fontfamily><param>Helvetica</param><bigger><bigger><bigger>
Confidentiality fear over records

=
</bigger></bigger></bigger></fontfamily></bold><fontfamily><param>Helvetic=
a</param><smaller>
By Nick Triggle=20

 BBC News health reporter in Manchester=20

<bold> Doctors fear the computerisation of medical records could
threaten patient confidentiality.</bold>=20

 In future records will be stored on a national database, which will
allow staff to access information wherever someone is treated.

 However, doctors are concerned the system, part of the NHS's =A36.2bn
IT upgrade, could be open to abuse.

 The issue was debated at the British Medical Association conference
in Manchester.

<bold><x-tad-bigger> BMA survey results

=
</x-tad-bigger></bold></smaller></fontfamily><fontfamily><param>Helvetica<=
/param><smaller>
75% of patients would not mind their health information being held on
a central database

 75% had concerns about the security of information

 81% were worried about accessibility by people other than the
healthcare professionals providing their care

 93% said the public should be fully consulted about the proposals
before they are finalised

 A survey released by the BMA on Thursday shows members of the public
recognise the potential value of the new system - but many are
seriously concerned about its security.

 Dr Richard Vautrey, a GP from Leeds and lead for IT on the BMA's GP
committee, said: "Doctors have a fundamental duty to protect the
confidentiality of the information that patients tell them.

 "And many doctors remained concerned that we seem to be sleepwalking
into a system where a significant amount of personal and medical
information is held on a national database without either us or
patients fully understanding the long-term implications."

 Dr Vautrey said there was an urgent need for a public debate about
the changes, both about the amount of information that is held on the
system, and how patients could opt out without compromising access to
healthcare.

<bold> Built-in safeguards</bold>=20

 He acknowledged the system had securities built in.

 But he added: "An IT system is only as secure as its weakest link.

 "There are access controls so that doctors or other health
professionals can only access what information is relevant.

 "For example, if a consultant is treating someone for a stomach
complaint there is probably no need for them to know the person has
had an abortion.

 "But our fears are that people will share their access controls, or
others will hack into the system for commercial gain."

 However, Dr Vautrey said there were many benefits to the upgrade,
which will link GPs and hospitals, transforming the way the NHS works.

 As well as the electronic records, the system will allow patients to
book hospital appointments online at GP surgeries and create an
electronic prescription system.

 He added he would like to see the information held on the electronic
records system restricted to only the most critical data.

 Speaking in the debate, GP John Canning said: "The profession is held
together by core values and one of these is confidentiality and we are
in danger of removing that."

 But Dr Grant Kelly, a member of the BMA's council and GP, warned: "If
we are seen to be restricting the sharing of data we have a problem."

<bold> More secure</bold>=20

 Dr Simon Eccles, an A&E doctor working with the Department of Health
on implementing the new system, said security had been taken extremely
seriously.

 "The security measures that have been put in place are greater than
those in the banking industry."

 Dr Eccles said every time anybody looked at a record it would be
logged.

 "I couldn't look up your blood test just on a whim. There are access
controls that ensure I have a relationship with that patient.

 "That is much more secure than the present system using paper."

<color><param>6666,6666,6666</param><x-tad-smaller>Story from BBC =
NEWS:</x-tad-smaller></color><x-tad-smaller>

</x-tad-smaller><color><param>6666,6666,6666</param><x-tad-smaller>
=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/4633213.stm</x-tad-smaller></=
color><x-tad-smaller>

</x-tad-smaller><color><param>6666,6666,6666</param><x-tad-smaller>
Published: 2005/06/29 12:22:02 =
GMT</x-tad-smaller></color><x-tad-smaller>

</x-tad-smaller><color><param>6666,6666,6666</param><x-tad-smaller> =A9
BBC MMV</x-tad-smaller></color></smaller></fontfamily>=

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