title: [Data protection measures in medical information systems].
abstract: Information technology and networks should improve health care in the next few years. But the information systems in use are open systems; processing and transporting data by them is incompatible with the high privacy requirements of patient information. We have the technical means to achieve better security, but we cannot build them into existing systems by way of addition--the suppliers of hard- and software must integrate them into the systems, beginning with the system design, in a way that doesn't detract users from their proper tasks; users shouldn't have to do more than log into the IT system with their Health Professional Card. On the other hand the expense of organisational means and security personnel in health care environment is not negligible. But a thorough realization of security features will substantially improve the quality of information and the compliance with the law. The costs will reduce the profit of information technology, but not completely.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Statistik und Dokumentation, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. pommerening@imsd.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pommerening
mesh_terms: D016494:Computer Security / Q000191:economics; D003219:Confidentiality; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000191:economics; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics