With the increased use of technology, data security has become of paramount importance to software development. The use of electronic health records (EHR's) in the medical field has demanded that patient and practice information is not only secure from external people but also from system users within the practice itself. One of the great characteristics of any EHR software is the ability to give users specific rights which align with their responsibilities within the software to maintain the required level of security.
There are many benefits of assigning user rights and responsibilities. In this blog post, we will highlight the top 4:
1. Patient Medical Information is Secure
When a patient visits a health care provider, they are trusting that their information is being protected from anyone who should not have access to it, this may include staff within the practice. This information can include patient progress notes, lab results, and user data who is also a patient at the practice. Within any EHR software, practice administrators should be able to limit which staff member or user group can have access to patient health information. This allows providers to ensure privacy and security of this confidential data.
2. Practice Reporting Information is Not Accessible to All Users
The ability to limit access to financial and system reporting is another key benefit of assigning user rights and responsibilities. Providers who use the software for billing may not want all users to have the ability to check their daily totals or other financials relating the practice. They may also want to limit users access the Meaningful Use and other reports relating to the patient diagnosis. By limiting access to different reports, you will protect your practice’s financials and system data.
3. Only Authorized Users Can Make Changes to the Software
Another important right is the ability to make changes in the actual software that may affect all users. A great example of this is a practice that may want limit who is able to add and change users’ rights in the software, as well as any set preferences that may affect the outcome of the documentation of a visit. This right ensures that only authorized users can make changes such as editing procedures, test codes, and more.
4. Select Authorized Users can be Assigned to Certain Patients
In 2016, a major music star was checked into a hospital and within a short time several internal staff members had accessed their information and leaked it to the press. This story highlights the importance of assigning user rights and responsibilities to ensure health information is only available to the appropriate staff members. Giving select users exclusive rights to certain patients allows for added privacy of patients who may be considered VIP, and also allows for accountability should information be leaked.
Assigning user rights and responsibilities is an important feature in any EHR software. This will allow your practice to maintain the highest quality of care, compliance, and security.