Private President Clinton announced proposed regulations to protect the privacy of personal medical information on October 29, 1999.
Information technology has great potential for improving health care in the United States.
Electronic records can also help reduce the costs of care by eliminating unnecessary or redundant tests. Nevertheless, the marriage of medical records with information technology heightens concerns about patient privacy. These questions need to be answered in order for the health care system to function effectively in a digital environment. Quality health care is dependent on quality information. These fears are not wholly misplaced.