Week 17 – Question of the Week: Do you want your personal health information on the internet?

Week 17: 2011-07-28

Few people realize that their computerized medical files may be on the internet.

With one goal of electronic health records being easier communication from doctor to doctor, and with the need for a universal method of such communication, isn’t this inevitable?

If you knew that your personal files were being stored on the internet for easier (and perhaps universal) access, what would you say?  Of course, this information is encrypted, and only those with permission should have access, but even then, is this all right with you?

Comments, questions, and suggestions are all appreciated.  Submit your response in the block below.

– Doc Cindy

Enhanced by Zemanta

About Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

CYNTHIA J KOELKER , MD is a board-certified family physician with over twenty years of clinical experience. A member of American Mensa, Dr. Koelker holds degrees in biology, humanities, medicine, and music from M.I.T., Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and the University of Akron. She served in the National Health Service Corps to finance her medical education.
This entry was posted in Education, Medical archives, Question of the Week and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to Week 17 – Question of the Week: Do you want your personal health information on the internet?

  1. Dave, RN says:

    NO. Never. For one thing, if the grid is down, you’ve got no records. Second, history shows us that these things can be stolen or hacked.
    But it’s really too late. There are electronic medical record programs used by home health (and other) agencies that are internet-based.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *