Health Systems Privacy and Security (Health, Medicine, Nursing Article Critique)

Health Systems Privacy and Security
Name:
Institutional Affiliation:
Course:
Instructor:
Date:
Health Systems Privacy and Security
Summary
Lane and Schur authored the article “Balancing access to health data and privacy: a review of the issues and approaches for the future," published in 2010. The authors research the issues surrounding data privacy and access to such data due to the increased concern regarding its security in the health services context. Health services produce vast amounts of information that may be useful for researchers in the field but, in most cases, contain personal information, thus posing a privacy risk. Consequently, the authors propose the need for innovative modes that improve the utilization of such data by researchers. The utility of data has increasingly been affected by restrictions to access regarding public use files, research data centers, and licensing agreements. For instance, the authors identified increased delays brought about by various requirements to access some types of information, thus limiting research effectiveness (Lane & Schur, 2010). Consequently, the authors recommend that delays brought by such restrictions on data access that do not necessarily put the data at risk should be reduced while opening up remote data access opportunities.
From the above article, data security and privacy issues come as a hindrance to genuine researchers seeking data to complement their research. Regarding regulations, the author recommends the development of standards to guide the industry regarding data security. Since such data involves intellectual property rights in most cases and protections of personal identification information, laws are intertwined hence causing unnecessary problems. Data providers must thus promote easy access to their information once the verification of a researcher is complete. With delays affecting researchers' ability to churn out viable solutions to problems in the health industry, the industry becomes negatively affected. Researchers should access information in due time especially in instances where they received funding to conduct it hence holders of such data should find appropriate ways of disseminating it without compromising its privacy attributes.
Agaku et al. authored the article “Concern about security and privacy, and perceived control over collection and use of health information are related to withholding of health information from healthcare providers," published in 2014. In the research, the authors analyze the perception of adults in America regarding the security of their protected health information (PIH). With PHI security being a primary concern for both patients and health care providers, theft of such information poses a considerable identity and financial risk to both parties. The authors thus identified concerns by patients regarding the privacy and security of their information. While most of the respondents perceived providers to have safeguards that protect their information, concerns on the safety of the PHI were prevalent during transfers through fax or electrical means. Furthermore, 12.3% of the respondents also reported withholding information to providers due to security and privacy concerns. For...