Implementing security in computer based patient records clinical experiences

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Medical Record Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Organizational changes in Norwegian hospitals prioritize patient safety.
• Shift from department-based to hospital-wide paper patient records increases accessibility but raises privacy concerns.
• Non-medical staff access to comprehensive patient information poses security risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of computer-based patient records (CPRs) as a solution to privacy and security challenges.
• To investigate the joint design considerations for CPR systems, focusing on security, privacy, effectiveness, and user-friendliness.
• To evaluate the feasibility of implementing CPRs that meet both clinical utility and stringent privacy requirements.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of organizational changes and record management practices in Norwegian hospitals.
• Review of clinical experiences and implementation of CPR systems.
• Assessment of security, privacy, effectiveness, and user-friendliness aspects in CPR design.

Main Results:

• Computer-based patient records (CPRs) can effectively address the paradox of accessibility versus privacy.
• Joint focus on security, privacy, effectiveness, and user-friendliness from the outset is crucial for successful CPR design.
• Clinical experiences demonstrate the possibility of creating useful CPR tools for healthcare personnel (HCP) that comply with privacy regulations.

Conclusions:

• Computer-based patient records (CPRs) offer a viable solution for enhancing patient safety and privacy in healthcare settings.
• Successful CPR implementation requires a holistic design approach integrating technical and user-centric considerations.
• Norwegian clinical experiences validate the development of secure and effective CPR systems for healthcare personnel (HCP).