An Overview of My Health Record: Benefits, Risks and Concerns
In recent years, there has been a significant shift towards digitization in the healthcare industry. This has led to the development of electronic health records (EHRs) or My Health Record, which have a plethora of benefits. However, with the rise of digitization, there has been an increased concern regarding the security and privacy of patient information.
Benefits of My Health Record
My Health Record is a centralized online database, which contains the health information of an individual. This record can be accessed by healthcare providers, pharmacies, and the individual himself. The following are some of the benefits of having a My Health Record:
1. Improved Coordinated Care: My Health Record enables healthcare providers to access comprehensive health information about their patient, including medical history, allergies, medications, etc., which helps in providing more coordinated care.
2. Time-Saving: With My Health Record, healthcare providers can quickly access an individual’s health information and make informed decisions regarding their care, which saves time and effort.
3. Greater Patient Involvement: My Health Record allows individuals to have greater control over their health information and to actively participate in their care.
Risks and Concerns
The increased digitization of healthcare has led to an increased concern over the security and privacy of patient information. With My Health Record, the following are some of the risks and concerns:
1. Security Breaches: Trusting the security protocols of My Health Record’s platform is essential for patients to feel secure in sharing sensitive medical information. However, the possibility of security breaches makes patients hesitant about using this technology.
2. Medical Identity Theft: My Health Record puts individuals at risk of medical identity theft. If a cybercriminal gains access to an individual’s record, the thief could obtain sensitive information that could be used for fraud or other malicious purposes.
3. Lack of Control over Information: While individuals have greater control over their health information using My Health Record, the platform’s decisions of how and when to share information, are out of their control.
Conclusion
My Health Record is an innovative solution aimed to improve the coordination of healthcare and provide greater patient autonomy. However, to fully reap these benefits, it is crucial to address the risks and concerns associated with EHRs. Trust in My Health Record’s security protocols should be given utmost importance, and individuals must be educated on how to manage their privacy and security. Overall, as with any technological innovation, My Health Record offers both opportunities and challenges, but ultimately it is up to the individual how they choose to manage their health information.
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