Privacy Health Records in the United States Article Critique

Total Length: 720 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 2

Page 1 of 2

Privacy of Health Records in the United States: Health Information Privacy in the Correctional Setting

The advent of technology both eased the handling of patients' health records by health practitioners and elevated the importance of health information privacy in all health care facilities. According to Goldstein (2014), electronic health records (EHRs) are important in the delivery of patient centered medical care, improving the quality of care offered to patients, and reducing health disparities and medical errors. Compared to paper records, electronic records receive information from multiple providers and allow for the tracking of the patient's health throughout their life, which facilitates the access and sharing of health information for a variety of healthcare providers (Grady, 2012).

The problem

While majority of healthcare facilities are enjoying the benefits of electronic health records, some are yet to adopt the use of health information technology. In the U.S. correctional setting for example, there is limited use of EHRs and electronic health information exchanges. Goldstein (2014) states that one study established that there is very little exchange of electronic information between systems, community providers, and correctional facilities. Furthermore, the absence of electronic exchanges implies that there lacks appropriate security and privacy policies that must be established to fully enjoy the benefits of EHRs.

It is important to adopt health information technology, while at the same time adhering to health information privacy rules particularly due to the large number of correctional setting in the U.S.

Stuck Writing Your "Privacy Health Records in the United States" Article Critique?

And the large number of Americans affected. For instance, in 2008, approximately 2.3 million people were inmates in a given day; and during the months ending June 2012, there was a midyear inmate population of 744,524, with more than 11 million people being admitted to jail (Goldstein). It is imperative for correctional facilities to adopt EHRs in order to handle all of the patient's records effectively; and at the same time adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that sets the national standards for the protection of health information.

Implications

The limited use of health information technology makes it hard for health facilitators to access and maintain accurate records, which affects the overall health of the inmates. This is disadvantageous to the patients who have to live with chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, and psychiatric disorders because they are in close contact, and they age by the day. It is also disadvantageous to doctors who have to rely….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Privacy Health Records In The United States" (2015, April 20) Retrieved May 17, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/privacy-health-records-united-states-2150307

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Privacy Health Records In The United States" 20 April 2015. Web.17 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/privacy-health-records-united-states-2150307>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Privacy Health Records In The United States", 20 April 2015, Accessed.17 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/privacy-health-records-united-states-2150307