title: Managing information and knowledge within maternity services: Privacy and consent issues.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Electronic Patient Records have improved vastly the quality and efficiency of care delivered. However, the formation of single demographic database and the ease of electronic information sharing give rise to many concerns including issues of consent, by whom and how data are accessed and used. This paper examines the organizational and socio-technical issues related to privacy, confidentiality and security when employing electronic records within a maternity service hospital in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  A preliminary questionnaire was administered (n  =  52), in total, 24 responses were received. Sixteen responses were from personnel in the information technology department, 5 from health information department and 3 from midwifery managers. This was followed by a semi-structured interview with representatives from the clinical and technological side.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A number of issues related to information governance (IG) have been identified, especially breaches on sharing personal information without consent from the patients have been identified as one immediate challenge that needs to be fixed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an immediate need for more robust, realistic, built-in accountability both locally and nationally on data sharing. A culture of ownership and strict adherence to IG principles is paramount. Focused training in the area of data, information and knowledge sharing will bring in a balance of legitimate usage against the individual's rights to confidentiality and privacy.
authors: Ted Rogers School of Health Services Management and School of Information Technology Management, Chronic Disease Management and Prevention (CDMAP) Research Centre, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. vikraman@ryerson.ca
authors: Vikraman
authors: V
authors: Baskaran
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Davis
authors: Rajeev K
authors: RK
authors: Bali
authors: Raouf N G
authors: RN
authors: Naguib
authors: Nilmini
authors: N
authors: Wickramasinghe
mesh_terms: D016494:Computer Security; D003219:Confidentiality; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D063025:Health Information Management / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007258:Informed Consent; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration