Security Techniques for the Electronic Health Records

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Information Security
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Patient data privacy and security are paramount concerns for electronic health record (EHR) adoption in healthcare.
• Existing legal regulations necessitate robust security measures for healthcare organizations.
• A need exists for comprehensive research into healthcare information security.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and discuss prominent security techniques for implementing secure EHR systems.
• To identify key security measures relevant to current legal frameworks.
• To establish a foundation for future research in healthcare security.

Main Methods:

• A literature review was conducted using Texas State University Library databases (PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source).
• Searches focused on literature concerning the security of electronic health records, applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.
• Analysis included 25 journals and reviews, with 20 detailing specific security methods.

Main Results:

• Frequently mentioned security measures were categorized into three main themes: administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.
• These safeguards are vital for addressing the sensitive nature of information within EHRs.
• Security techniques must comprehensively cover threats across all healthcare pillars.

Conclusions:

• Advanced security techniques are imperative to alleviate concerns regarding EHR data protection.
• Implementing a combination of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards is essential for secure EHR systems.
• Further research is needed to address the evolving landscape of healthcare security threats.