Electronic health records (EHR): Opportunities and challenges for sensitive patient information

Warshaw, Carole

Friday, March 20, 2015: 4:00 PM-5:20 PM

Congressional Hall B (Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel)

Speakers:
Carole Warshaw, MD, National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health
Annie Lewis-O'Connor, PhD, NP, MPH, Brigham and Women's Hosptial and Harvard Medical School

Authors:
Cindy Southworth, MSW, National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV)
Lena O'Rourke, MPP, O’Rourke Health Policy Strategies

Presentation Format:
Innovative/Promising Practice Program Report

Learning Objectives:

Be aware of the opportunities and challenges that exist for handling sensitive health information when using EHRs.
Be able to name at least 3 guiding principles for building a safe EHR.
Have the tools needed to think critically about the design of their system’s EHRs and recommend real change when appropriate.

Description:
EHRs are here to stay in the health care delivery system. They have the potential to greatly improve care coordination and health outcomes. However, those advances must be balanced with the safety, privacy and confidentiality of the data of patients affected by trauma, violence and those under care for sensitive matters such as mental health, substance abuse and reproductive health.