Medical Privacy - You're Doing It Right

It's so rare that we gain ground with privacy rights that I am always surprised.  Recently, this change has been proposed, and it's a great idea.

Under the rule proposed by the Department of Healthand Human Services (HHS), health-care-related businesses must list everyone in their firms — from doctors to data-entry clerks — who has accessed a patient's electronic records and when.

"It is important to protect a person's right to know how their health information has been used or disclosed," said Rachel Seeger, spokeswoman for HHS' Office of Civil Rights.

For example, in 2008, the UCLA Medical Center fired several employees who looked at Britney Spears' medical records without being directly involved in her care. Under the new rule, Spears could see who accessed her records.

For yet one final surprise, Britney Spears (indirectly) contributed to the world.  Seriously, people have a right to know who has accessed their information, and concerns about people who work in the health care care industry aren't screened enough to guarantee ethical treatment of our records.  This is important not only for our peace of mind, but ensures accountability for those who manage our information.