[Med-privacy] National Dialogue on Health Information Technology and Privacy

[peter marshall]

October 23, 2008 =97 MacRonin

National Dialogue on Health Information Technology and Privacy - Via=20
CDT - PolicyBeta:

Health information technology - including electronic medical records,=20
electronic health information exchange, and personal health records -=20
have the potential to dramatically improve our health care system.=20
Survey data shows that the public clearly wants electronic access to=20
their health information - both for themselves and their health care=20
providers. At the same time, people have significant concerns about the=20=

privacy of their health information on-line. In one recent survey, 67%=20=

of respondents were either =93somewhat=94 or =93very concerned=94 about =
the=20
privacy of their personal medical records.

The failure to address public concerns about the privacy of their=20
health information could have significant consequences. Without=20
appropriate protections for privacy and security in the healthcare=20
system, patients will withhold information from the health care=20
providers - or decide not to seek treatment - because of fears about=20
how their personal health information could be misused. Ignoring=20
concerns about privacy - or inadequately address them - will=20
significantly threaten public trust in these new e-health technologies,=20=

and in our overall healthcare system.

Privacy concerns are often described as an =93obstacle=94 to moving =
forward=20
with health IT. In fact, the opposite is true. Building privacy and=20
security protections into e-health systems is the key to accelerating=20
the adoption of health IT.

Next week we have a unique opportunity to make our voices heard on the=20=

importance of protecting privacy in health IT, and what policies and=20
technical tools need to be adopted in order to build public trust.=20
Beginning October 27, and continuing throughout the week, advocates and=20=

citizens will engage in an on-line discussion about how we can use=20
information technology to improve healthcare while safeguarding=20
privacy.

Find out more at by logging on to the National Dialogue Web site.

The results of this online dialogue will be compiled into a report to=20
the Federal CIO Council and the incoming administration. This unique=20
experiment in democracy is hosted by the National Academy of Public=20
Administration, a non-profit, non-partisan organization focused on good=20=

government, in partnership with AmericaSpeaks and Delib. CDT will be=20
logging on thoughout the week to provide comments, and we encourage you=20=

to do the same.

(Read Original Article - Via CDT - PolicyBeta.)

[Privacy Digest]