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Three Things You Should Know About Your Personal Health Information

Your personal health information is a valuable resource to you, your family, and the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who provide your treatment and care.  As Health Information Privacy and Security Week approaches, April 9–15, Jennifer Toedte, the Director of Medical Records at Carlinville Area Hospital has outlined three things you need to know about your personal health information:

  1. Your information can only be seen by those who need it in order to provide your treatment, to facilitate payment for healthcare services, and to make sure quality care is being received. Your information may also be used for research and as a legal document in cases where evidence of care is needed. Anyone else who wants to use it for any other purpose needs your permission first.
  2. The healthcare industry and the federal government are working to improve healthcare through the use of information technology. This is done through the use of electronic health records (EHR) and a secure system that would allow EHRs to be shared across healthcare systems and providers to allow you greater access to your health information.  Currently most healthcare providers still manage medical records in a paper format.
  3. At healthcare organizations across the nation, health information management professionals are working to maintain your health record. These professionals are responsible for ensuring your health record is accurate, complete, confidential, and available when you, your doctor, and other healthcare professionals need access to the information.

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) sponsors health Information Privacy and Security Week. The week is designed to raise awareness among the public about the importance of personal health information privacy and security.  If you have questions related to your health information record, please feel free to call 854-3141 and ask for the Hospital’s Privacy Officer, Jennifer Toedte.


Posted: 04/09/2006
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