Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dan Lyons on September 18, 2009 at 10:42am

I wonder how long the C note fee will remain once a hacker breaches your medical records and they show up on the net.

All I can say is it had better have the best breach prevention software in existence.

Identity theft at another level.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by susan mccord on September 18, 2009 at 11:14am

I'm not certain there's one yes or no answer to this. It could be a little thorny in some instances. Re: paying for them, my first reaction is "NO!", only because my healthcare and insurance costs are already prohibitive and take nearly half my retirement income monthly. Im not that willing or interested in paying for records that are MINE. Besides it's another way of MDs making $$ off something that would cost them little to nothing to provide.

I also have concerns re: confidentiality. There's not much to say that hasn't been said a million times about who might get access to anything that's out there. It happens all the time.

The last and, frankly, more pressing issue for me is people getting access to medical reports that they may not understand. I've had patients who obtained labs, etc. and became very frightened with no immediate avenue for having them explained. In the case of sleep apnea patients who already have a pretty clear idea of what #s mean, it would probably be a blessing in terms of self-monitoring. That may be true of other illnesses as well. I just have concerns that once "records" are readily accessible, there's danger of some patients being exposed to information that would be better learned in the presence of a professional who could clearly explain what results of tests actually mean.

For me personally, I'd probably like having info accessible 'cause I have resources to find out anything I don't understand re: lab results, etc. But diagnostically, I think open records could be disaster for a lot of people. (I'd sure hate to find out I have cancer or MS, etc. via my computer--talk about trauma!!).

It's one of those "once the horse is out of the barn" deals, kinda.........

Susan McCord :-)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on September 18, 2009 at 11:48am

This would not put you at risk for identity theft anymore than social sites like this one does. If you get on the internet for anything you are at risk. The key to avoiding identity theft is staying on top of your personal records. Something like this would make that easier. My wife and I have both been hacked. Me once, and her twice. They did not get anything, and all 3 persons are currently in jail. this did not happen because we limit the information, but rather because we stay on top of it. In all 3 cases we knew that our security had been broken within 24 hours. My wife is a pc guru. There are measures that you can take to protect your info. As it is right now your info is setting idle in medical servers all over the world. Whether or not you have access to it or not there is a chance that someone might get it. you can either embrace progress, or stand aside and watch it pass you by. You cannot stop it. online medical records and monitoring are coming.

Dan Lyons said:

I wonder how long the C note fee will remain once a hacker breaches your medical records and they show up on the net.

All I can say is it had better have the best breach prevention software in existence.

Identity theft at another level.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eric James Bennett on September 18, 2009 at 12:39pm

I go to the VA for medical treatment as a disabled vet and everything is computerized.. Even though I do not have access to them as soon as a test is done or a treatment ordered it becomes part of the patients record.. It is really a neat thing..

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Claude on September 18, 2009 at 2:03pm

Thank you, thank you. "embrace progress or stand aside and let it pass you by." Very well said!

Rock Hinkle said:

This would not put you at risk for identity theft anymore than social sites like this one does. If you get on the internet for anything you are at risk. The key to avoiding identity theft is staying on top of your personal records. Something like this would make that easier. My wife and I have both been hacked. Me once, and her twice. They did not get anything, and all 3 persons are currently in jail. this did not happen because we limit the information, but rather because we stay on top of it. In all 3 cases we knew that our security had been broken within 24 hours. My wife is a pc guru. There are measures that you can take to protect your info. As it is right now your info is setting idle in medical servers all over the world. Whether or not you have access to it or not there is a chance that someone might get it. you can either embrace progress, or stand aside and watch it pass you by. You cannot stop it. online medical records and monitoring are coming.

Dan Lyons said:

I wonder how long the C note fee will remain once a hacker breaches your medical records and they show up on the net.

All I can say is it had better have the best breach prevention software in existence.

Identity theft at another level.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Patricia Parker Stratman on September 18, 2009 at 2:36pm

yes, i would like access to my medical records. one of my doctors gives me a copy of the records for each visit. he doesn't charge a thing, however he doesn't take my insurance and charges $400 per hour. hum. i think we have already paid enough and all doctors should give us a copy of our records if we want them for free.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan Lyons on September 18, 2009 at 3:54pm

The use of common sense, to which is lacking, needs to be used with any technology leap.

“embrace progress or stand aside and let it pass you by” When you embrace it, you need to make sure that those providing the kiss have ample protection.

FYI

Roanoke Times & World News
May 13, 2009
RICHMOND -- Virginia officials have yet to determine how severely a hacker compromised the state's prescription-monitoring database but are taking steps to restore other online services for health professionals.
The FBI and the Virginia State Police continue to investigate a security breach involving the prescription-monitoring program maintained by the Virginia Department of Health Professions, which licenses health care providers in the state. State officials said a hacker penetrated the program's Web site, accessed millions of prescription records and reportedly posted a note demanding $10 million for the data's return. The department recognized the unauthorized message on April 30 and ...


PS – I have the letter from the State of VA advising me of it also. Those persons whose records were hacked had SSN, Medicare information, phone numbers, credit card numbers, checking account numbers, etc. compromised.

The way to prevent yourself from becoming a victim is to make yourself less of a target.


Claude said:

Thank you, thank you. "embrace progress or stand aside and let it pass you by." Very well said!

Rock Hinkle said:

This would not put you at risk for identity theft anymore than social sites like this one does. If you get on the internet for anything you are at risk. The key to avoiding identity theft is staying on top of your personal records. Something like this would make that easier. My wife and I have both been hacked. Me once, and her twice. They did not get anything, and all 3 persons are currently in jail. this did not happen because we limit the information, but rather because we stay on top of it. In all 3 cases we knew that our security had been broken within 24 hours. My wife is a pc guru. There are measures that you can take to protect your info. As it is right now your info is setting idle in medical servers all over the world. Whether or not you have access to it or not there is a chance that someone might get it. you can either embrace progress, or stand aside and watch it pass you by. You cannot stop it. online medical records and monitoring are coming.

Dan Lyons said:

I wonder how long the C note fee will remain once a hacker breaches your medical records and they show up on the net.

All I can say is it had better have the best breach prevention software in existence.

Identity theft at another level.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ValerieRose on September 18, 2009 at 3:55pm

I believe that everyone needs to know what is in their medical records. Every year I request my own records so I can see and I can keep track. Some of the most bizarre remarks end up in your file. It would be money well spent!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on September 18, 2009 at 5:16pm

So how does one make themself less of a target? This could not have been prevented. It could happen at any hospital the way things stand right now. you cannot live a healthy life under the guise that you believe everyone is out to get you. in gradeschool I was warned about the dangers of crossing the street, yet i do it everyday. if something bad is going to happen it is going to happen regardless of what you do.

Dan Lyons said:

The use of common sense, to which is lacking, needs to be used with any technology leap.

“embrace progress or stand aside and let it pass you by” When you embrace it, you need to make sure that those providing the kiss have ample protection.

FYI

Roanoke Times & World News
May 13, 2009
RICHMOND -- Virginia officials have yet to determine how severely a hacker compromised the state's prescription-monitoring database but are taking steps to restore other online services for health professionals.
The FBI and the Virginia State Police continue to investigate a security breach involving the prescription-monitoring program maintained by the Virginia Department of Health Professions, which licenses health care providers in the state. State officials said a hacker penetrated the program's Web site, accessed millions of prescription records and reportedly posted a note demanding $10 million for the data's return. The department recognized the unauthorized message on April 30 and ...


PS – I have the letter from the State of VA advising me of it also. Those persons whose records were hacked had SSN, Medicare information, phone numbers, credit card numbers, checking account numbers, etc. compromised.

The way to prevent yourself from becoming a victim is to make yourself less of a target.


Claude said:

Thank you, thank you. "embrace progress or stand aside and let it pass you by." Very well said!

Rock Hinkle said:

This would not put you at risk for identity theft anymore than social sites like this one does. If you get on the internet for anything you are at risk. The key to avoiding identity theft is staying on top of your personal records. Something like this would make that easier. My wife and I have both been hacked. Me once, and her twice. They did not get anything, and all 3 persons are currently in jail. this did not happen because we limit the information, but rather because we stay on top of it. In all 3 cases we knew that our security had been broken within 24 hours. My wife is a pc guru. There are measures that you can take to protect your info. As it is right now your info is setting idle in medical servers all over the world. Whether or not you have access to it or not there is a chance that someone might get it. you can either embrace progress, or stand aside and watch it pass you by. You cannot stop it. online medical records and monitoring are coming.

Dan Lyons said:

I wonder how long the C note fee will remain once a hacker breaches your medical records and they show up on the net.

All I can say is it had better have the best breach prevention software in existence.

Identity theft at another level.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Judy on September 18, 2009 at 11:16pm

Yup, yup. I can remember when PayPal was hacked into several years ago. Heck, even some of our government departments. I don't have to embrace all this new technology but eventually I'm going to have to accept it. I still don't do my banking online, I don't pay bills online, I don't make online purchases w/my credit card unless I can call the number in - but - once someone else, some business legitimately has "my number", my info is subject to their risk of being hacked into anyway. Sometimes I wonder why I don't just cave in and bank online and pay my bills online, etc.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Woolfey on September 20, 2009 at 11:26am

There is no reason to charge 100 dollars for this service.. that is just greed on someones part.. Does that mean you'd have to pay individually for each doctors records that you need/want to see??? It would save them a bunch of money and aggravation, unless they don't like having patients see know what is going on.. In which case perhaps they should be selling cars.. or get a government job.. Oh wait..
I know my old primary care seller wouldn't have wanted me to have easy access to my records.. First thing my new PCP did was correct several drug interaction problems which the old one insisted didn't exist.. Then she sent me for a sleep study.. Something else the other guy was loathe to do..

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page