Question

Which type of medical record - paper or electronic - protects the security of health information better?

Answer 1

The use of electronic type of medical records protects the security of the helath information better.

If the medical records are documented and stored in the form of paper,then that can be accessed by unauthorised person, if it is misplaced or misfiled.When the information are electronically recorded one can control precisely who has to access to the EMR.

In case of Electronic medical records,patient information can encrypted which keeps all the information secured.On other hand if the health information are recorded on paper,there is possibility that unauthorised person can access into it,and a copy of documents in the form of photocopy,scan or Fax can be done which leads to leakage of private information.

Paper records can be easily manipulated and tempered without leaving any clue such as removing the paper from the records,placing a new copy and substituting details.All these manipulation makes paper documents less reliable.Electronic health records are more safe in this context as it is encrypted,and only an authorised person can access into it.Every details entered in electronic record can be verified with date and time and the authorised person who is making entry,hence further any illegal manipulation made can be easily verified.

With the electronic medical records,one can maintain all the information secured through a backups,but in case of paper records it's very difficult to save the documents for a longer duration.In a situation such as natural calamities (Fire,earthquake) and in the events such as criminal tresspass or vandalism can cause loss of records.

So it is always safe and convenient to have electronic medical recording of health information.