Data blocking, or the withholding of patient data, is a challenge that has run through all levels of the healthcare industry for some time now. In 2014, a Boston-based EHR vendor was accused of holding the records of 4,000 Maine patients hostage because of a dispute over $20,000 in unpaid bills, according to the Boston Globe.
Information blocking hasn’t been in the healthcare limelight since the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued their report on data blocking to Congress a year ago, but recent statements from Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell have relaunched the conversation.
Healthcare IT professionals will want to take note of this renewed focus, as the free flow of patient data and the availability of new technology is directly tied to patient-centered initiatives that are top-of-mind with many healthcare leaders today. It’s important to be aware not only of patient access to information, but also the financial, security and technological hurdles your organization might face when exchanging information with other healthcare entities.
HHS Weighs In
Secretary Burwell recently addressed the American College of Physicians and directly stressed the importance of building a connected health system, relaying that HHS will be focusing on three areas to help usher that system in:
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Tackling data blocking and relating to doctors and hospitals that “patients have a right to their records.”
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Emphasizing interoperability and the need for common standards to ensure effective communication throughout all healthcare fields.
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Bolstering security backed by rules and regulations that keep “data moving simply and securely throughout the healthcare system.”
She emphasized that this initiative will require a cultural change so that physicians and hospitals understand that data blocking is not an acceptable practice for organizations focused on patient care, and that patient access to data can make hospital stays a lot more comfortable. Burwell also stressed the connection between information flow and its impact across the entire healthcare system: “We all want a health system where information flows seamlessly and securely when and where you need it most. When you have all the information you need, you can see the whole health picture.”
She additionally tied the open flow of patient data to interoperability goals, stating that data access complements an environment where “health IT systems are speaking the same language through common standards so they can communicate with one another.”
Addressing Security
Burwell touted the fact that EHR adoption has tripled in recent years, but also commented on security, stating that HHS will work to protect sensitive patient information through rules and regulations that are designed to help — not hinder — interoperability and market success. She continued, “Whether it’s helping doctors make more informed decisions, giving people the tools to be active partners in their own health, or advancing our understanding of quality, better use of data moves our whole system forward. That’s why it is so important that hospitals and physicians stand up against data blocking.”
Initial Progress
Overall, vendors seem to be getting on board with facilitating easier flows of patient information. EHR vendors including Epic, athenahealth, Inc. and Cerner, which had fallen under scrutiny for substantial fees charged to providers for exchanging patient data, have since reduced their fees to better accommodate demands for freer-flowing information, signifying a willingness to build a more open, connected healthcare system.
In an age when the healthcare industry is increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, security is an important concern. Learn more about how to navigate EHR access and HIPAA security here.
