[Med-privacy] survey

[Peter Marshall]

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Survey: Americans Still Worry over Medical Privacy


NPR.org, November 9, 2005 =B7  Despite federal rules to protect the=20
privacy of medical information, Americans are more worried than ever=20
about the potential for misuse, according to a new survey.

Six years ago, the California Health Care Foundation found patients=20
very concerned about how their medical records were being used, and=20
found that one in six engaged in a practice that could protect their=20
privacy but threaten their health, such as asking a doctor not to put a=20=

diagnosis into their record.

Since then, the federal government has imposed rules giving patients=20
broad new rights to limit who can see and use their medical=20
information. But a new survey by the foundation finds consumers remain=20=

anxious. Two-thirds said they're still concerned about the privacy of=20
their medical records; one-third said they didn't even know about the=20
new protections. On the other hand, nearly two-thirds said they would=20
share health information if it would improve care, such as using=20
computerized record-keeping to reduce medical errors.=20=

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<bold><fontfamily><param>Helvetica</param><x-tad-bigger>Survey:
Americans Still Worry over Medical Privacy

=
</x-tad-bigger></fontfamily></bold><fontfamily><param>Helvetica</param><sm=
aller><x-tad-smaller>=20


</x-tad-smaller><italic><color><param>9999,9999,9999</param>NPR.org,
</color></italic><color><param>9999,9999,9999</param>November 9, 2005
=B7 </color> Despite federal rules to protect the privacy of medical
information, Americans are more worried than ever about the potential
for misuse, according to a new survey.


Six years ago, the California Health Care Foundation found patients
very concerned about how their medical records were being used, and
found that one in six engaged in a practice that could protect their
privacy but threaten their health, such as asking a doctor not to put
a diagnosis into their record.


Since then, the federal government has imposed rules giving patients
broad new rights to limit who can see and use their medical
information. But a new survey by the foundation finds consumers remain
anxious. Two-thirds said they're still concerned about the privacy of
their medical records; one-third said they didn't even know about the
new protections. On the other hand, nearly two-thirds said they
<italic>would</italic> share health information if it would improve
care, such as using computerized record-keeping to reduce medical
errors. </smaller></fontfamily>=

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