The study on confidentiality of electronic archive of medical records in khuzestan povince and providing national model

In recent years, in order to solve problems related to the storage and retrieval of paper-based medical records, the hospitals of the country have been scanning them using imaging systems. technology development allows unauthorized access to data. Therefore, data protection laws are required to maintain the confidentiality of patient information. In the present study, we are to investigate the confidentiality of medical records in digitalizing hospitals in the city of Ahwaz and provide a model for maintaining and enhancing data confidentiality.

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that investigates the confidentiality of medical records in selected hospitals of Ahwaz in 2019. The study population includes 11 selected hospitals. The required data were gathered through an researcher-made checklist completed in person (by observing) at Medical Record Department and Information Technology Units. These data were analyzed in Excel.

According to the study, despite various security criteria to protect the confidentiality of data, obtaining written letter of commitment for nondisclosure of the password and username had been ignored in all the centers under study except one.

Considering the sensitivity of health data, it is recommended that hospitals develop a written form as letter of commitment to improve confidentiality. They should require information technology and medical documents officials as well as all users to fill in the form before they can access any type of data. Keywords: Confidentiality, Security, Privacy