Electronic medical records will be more secure, and patients will have more control over who sees them thanks to a new software "consent engine." Privacy eSuite is a product of HIPAAT Inc., which supplies consent management solutions to the healthcare industry.
Thanks to collaboration between IBM and HIPAAT, the software lets patients and designated providers create and record privacy directives. The software then evaluates a provider's authorization to access a patient's information based on those directives across a broad spectrum of applications enabled by IBM’s SOA Foundation. A patient can restrict a particular clinician from accessing personal health information, even if that clinician -- based on medical role -- would typically be allowed to view them. The program also records all requests for access and creates an audit trail.
"Patients understand that it is beneficial for caregivers to share their health information electronically, but those informed of their rights want to control the conditions of access," said Terry Callahan, HIPAAT Managing Director. "Some patients will avoid participating in electronic health record programs or provider portals if they aren't given the capability to restrict access to their personal health information, which could negatively affect their care and put them in harm's way. Our collaboration with IBM provides the industry with a forward-thinking, patient-centric consent management solution that benefits both patients and providers."
Learn more:
IBM and HIPAAT Team to Give Patients Control over Personal Health Information Access (press release)