Information Privacy in the Evolving Healthcare Environment

Advances in health information technology (health IT) have the potential to improve the quality of healthcare, to increase the availability of health information for treatment, and to implement safeguards that cannot be applied easily or cost-effectively to paper-based health records. However, the digitization of health information is also raising new privacy

risks and concerns. Sensitive health information in digital form is more easily aggregated, used, and shared. In addition, the rising cost of healthcare and the search for efficiency may create incentives to use the information in new ways.

Research has consistently shown that while the public sees the potential value of health information exchange and technological advancements, it remains gravely concerned about the privacy of their sensitive health information. As a result, it is becoming increasingly clear that ensuring public trust will be critical to the successful implementation of nationwide health information exchange.

The purpose of this second edition is two-fold: 1) to educate readers about privacy concepts and 2) highlight key privacy issues facing the nation and the healthcare community as it moves towards electronic health records and health information exchange. The first three chapters are descriptive in nature, defining privacy and distinguishing it from security, defining the complex legal landscape for health information privacy, and setting the stage for the following chapters by describing the current landscape of the evolving healthcare environment. The following chapters discuss specific privacy issues and challenges in detail. The book concludes with a chapter providing a view to the future of healthcare and the association privacy implications. This is an updated version of one of HIMSS’ best-selling books on information privacy.

Ms. Koontz is a senior principal for Privacy and Strategy and head of the Health Systems Engineering and Information Assurance Department at The MITRE Corporation. Drawing from her more than 30 years’ experience in information systems management and technology, she advises senior-level staff at federal agencies on strategic approaches to building privacy into their organizations, processes, and systems. She has provided privacy advice and support to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the Department of Homeland Security, and is a former member of the Department’s Data Protection and Integrity Advisory Committee (DPIAC). She is also the editor of the book, Information Privacy in the Evolving Healthcare Environment, published by HIMSS in March 2013.

Before joining MITRE, Ms. Koontz served as the director, information management for the U.S. Government Accountability Office. In that role, she directed a broad portfolio of Congressionally requested studies, producing numerous reports on privacy, information access and dissemination, information collection, and records management. Ms. Koontz also testified numerous times before Congressional committees as an expert witness on these issues.

She holds a BA in Accounting from Michigan State University and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional. She is also an Executive Coach and a graduate of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program.