title: Patient access to electronic health record: a comparative study on laws, policies and procedures in selected countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The e-health system must have the capability of patient access to electronic health record. The advantage of access to their record lets them have better understanding of their condition and treatment. It can also raise the reliability of consistency and correctness of data in health care system. Finally it will improve the maintenance quality of medical records and guarantee better results of medication. This study aimed to carry out a comparative study concerning laws, policies and procedures upon patients' access right to EHR in selected countries and to suggest appropriate solutions for Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a comparative descriptive study. The study population was the laws, policies and procedures of patients' access right to EHR belong to countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Iran. Data were collected by taking notes on index cards. In this study in order to collect data, at first, the researcher studied the websites related to Health Ministry of the countries and existing laws and policies through related links in the websites. In next step, the health information management association websites were studied and the related data were collected. The gathered data were analyzed through content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings of research showed that in every four countries there are generally some laws, policies and procedures. Although Canada and New Zealand concerning the number of laws and policies related to the subject subsequently are ranked after Australia, they are ranked prior to Australia regarding benefiting the laws and specified policies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the necessity of EHR implementing and codifying the planning of SEPAS in Iran, as there is no specified laws or procedures regarding patients' access right to EHR, the obligation of paying attention to assigning a law or at least obvious policies and procedures and providing the details is absolutely apparent.
authors.affiliation: Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.forename: Sakineh Saghaeiannejad
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Isfahani
authors.forename: Zakiye
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Piri
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amini
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D009520:New Zealand; D033283:Patient Access to Records / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011640:Public Policy