Healthcare IT Update

The feds are pouring billions into the EHR implementation, but the majority of Americans — 80 percent — feel their electronic medical records are at risk when they’re in the hands of private industry or the government, Forbes reports. (Thanks to Fierce Healthcare’s Neil Versel for the heads up.)

The Ponemon Institute survey found that for 71 percent of respondents, it is okay for hospitals, clinics or physicians to store their health records. Likewise 99 percent believe a patient’s doctor should have access to his or her digital health records stored in a national system.

However only 38 percent said that a federal government agency should be able to access those records, and only 11 percent thought that private businesses should have access.

It may be a good thing that the U.S. Department of Health is not keen on centralizing health records in a single database but…