Dr Karen DeSalvo on Sharing and Protecting Medical Information

Karen DeSalvo, MD, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, said that while patients expect their medical records to be confidential, they are open to information sharing so long as it leads to improvements in their health or the health of others. Moreover, as Dr DeSalvo reveals, many patients expect their medical records to be digitized.

“It means our responsibility, then, is that as health IT, whether we’re government, vendors, or providers, is to do everything we can to fulfill that vision for them…but only when and where they need it.”

Dr DeSalvo goes on to discuss a security risk assessment tool currently being offered by the ONC to providers which is meant to raise awareness of patients’ expectations and knowledge of appropriate usage of electronic health records.