Electronic Personal Health Record: Confidentiality and Security Challenges in Addressing Health Disparity for Vulnerable Populations with Mental Disorders

Addressing the confidentiality and security concerns of vulnerable populations who have a mental disorder is of major importance in implementing and maintaining the President's healthcare information technology (HIT) initiative. Persons with mental disorders are very concerned that the thrust for interoperable electronic personal health records will diminish their right that personal health information only goes to designated providers. The necessity of informed decision-making is imperative. Rules developed for paper are different from those developed for PHRs. Defining and protecting privacy in substance use and mental health is a social as well as a technical challenge. Healthcare quality and cost effectiveness must be balanced with privacy and security protections related to both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the American Health Information Community (AHIC) and standards that guide the emerging National Health Information Network (NHIN). This presentation will identify specific challenges identified by persons with mental disorders, recommended actions and impact of privacy steps taken to date.