How Should Medical Images Films & Scans be Kept?
Medical offices used to keep all information on paper and all images in big paper folders, back when all the information was stored alphabetically or numerically. Over time, folders became very bulky and large. Advances in digital data storage have significantly changed the way medical offices store images.
HIPAA
According to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 or (HIPAA) addresses the security and privacy of health data. This was enacted by Congress in 1996. It helps to ensure the privacy of patients medical records and helps set standards for medical image storage. The radiology department has updated ways to store its patients x-rays, also. Each facility has a specific way to take care of scans, MRIs and CT scans.
CD Storage
One of the most up-to-date methods for medical image storage is for the films to be transferred to a CD. Patients are free to request a copy of any of their films any time. Radiology departments had specific rooms for scan storage with dedicated workers just for the records department.
Paper Folders
The days of storing these types of information in paper folders is fast coming to an end. For the past few years, facilities have been slowly but surely transferring most medical records, X-ray films and other information to digital storage. It is best to keep all patient information digitally, and that is the way it is done now. This prevents patients' private data from being so easily accessed and or used negatively.
Laptops
Another way that a medical record can be kept is with the use of a laptop. A doctor or nurse can carry the device from office to office entering any updated information as need be. This is making the need for a paper backup file less and less popular. If not using a laptop the ever popular Apple iPad can be used as a clinical tool by an office. Either device is an appropriate way to safely and securely store all patient data.
Tags: Films Scans, Films Scans Kept, image storage, Images Films, Images Films Scans, information paper, medical image
