Final answer:
Digitization is the process of converting paper health records to digital format, leading to electronic health records (EHR). These hold promise for better healthcare delivery but raise significant privacy concerns that need to be addressed through effective policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a paper health record has been scanned and is made available in a digital format, the process is known as digitization. This transformation is part of the broader movement towards electronic health records (EHR), which are intended to improve the quality and reduce the cost of health care. However, the move towards digitally sharing records among health providers also brings forth concerns regarding the privacy of patient information.
To develop policies that balance treatment costs, patient quality of life, and privacy risks, the following questions must be addressed:
- What security measures are in place to protect the privacy and integrity of electronic health records?
- How do we ensure that the digitization and sharing of health records will indeed lead to an improvement in patient care and reduction in costs?
- What are the ethical considerations, and how do we obtain informed consent from patients for the use and sharing of their digital health records?
With advancements like a-chip technology, we can expect an increase in home medical tests, presenting additional challenges and opportunities for electronic health record management and policy.