The guideline of the personal health data structure to secure safety healthcare. The balance between use and protection to satisfy the patients' needs

• Published in: International journal of medical informatics (Shannon, Ireland) Vol. 76; no. 5-6; pp. 412 - 418
• Main Authors: Ishikawa, Kiyomu, Ohmichi, Hisashi, Umesato, Yoshimasa, Terasaki, Hitoshi, Tsukuma, Hidehiko, Iwata, Norikazu, Tanaka, Takeshi, Kawamura, Akie, Sakata, Kayo, Sainohara, Teruko, Sugimura, Miyuki, Konishi, Nakao, Umemoto, Reiko, Mase, Shinji, Takesue, Shinichi, Tooya, Masashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland 01.05.2007
• Subjects: Confidentiality - standards; Humans; Medical Records Systems, Computerized - standards; Patient Access to Records - standards; Patient Satisfaction
• ISSN: 1386-5056
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2006.09.005

To inform about the impact of a recent movement towards a policy to develop integrative networked electronic health record (EHR) as a basis for cooperation among care teams and with patients and in support of safe patient care in Japan. The author headed a commission developing policy for health record (HR) structure and its computerization. It executed two questionnaire surveys as the basis for its work. One survey assessed the current state of computerization of health record in the hospitals certified by Japan Council for Quality Health Care (JCQHC). The other survey assessed the attitudes towards a specific EHR system in the Hiroshima University Hospital and its affiliate hospitals. The survey of the above hospitals showed that most have computer supported administrative procedures, but only few computer-based health records. The attitudes of the Hiroshima EHR users show that while they expect efficiency and quality improvements, there is also apprehension that the system in use might lower practical efficiency and compromise patient safety. Accordingly, health recording requirements and storage policy have been restructured and communicated to the hospitals. These insights led to the initiation of curricula educating "Health Information Technologist" which is promoted by Japan Association Medical Informatics and the criterion of Chart Review Promotion of JCQHC. They will also lead to recommendation for improved and advanced EHR.