Segregating trial data may ease EMR concerns

Storing information obtained during clinical trials within a segment of an individual's electronic record that's marked "research" may help ease patient concerns about sensitive data getting into the wrong hands. The research data segment of an EMR could have greater protection through additional security keys and a requirement for patient permission to access. The security problem needs to be addressed if researchers are to benefit from EMRs; survey data show that three-quarters of the public remains unconvinced that such records can be protected from unauthorized access. Article