Public Health Dangers of Disappearing Data
- March 21, 2025
- Ashley Keith , The University of Akron School of Law
Society has witnessed a large scale buy-in as we transitioned from traditional document creation and maintenance to electronic systems. One of the most comprehensive and complete transitions to electronic data has been within the health care industry in large part due to the passage of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which was signed into law on August 21, 1996. With the implementation of HIPAA, the congressional goals included a desire to increase continuity of care and the portability of medical records. Importantly, patients received a legally enforceable right to inspect and receive copies of their medical records and covered entities faced tangible penalties for actions in violation of the new law. To further these objectives and comply with this law, the prevalence of electronic health records coincided with the societal transition to electronic data systems and management. With our interconnectivity and pervasive reliance on electronic data and information in all facets of our lives, there is a danger to public health advancements if that information suddenly disappears or becomes inaccessible.
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