What is the primary concern when storing electronic health records?

The primary concern when storing electronic health records is data integrity and security. This is crucial because electronic health records contain sensitive patient information that must be protected from unauthorized access, breaches, and loss. Ensuring data integrity means that the information must remain accurate, consistent, and trustworthy over its entire lifecycle.

Healthcare organizations are required to comply with regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, which mandates strict safeguarding of patient health information. Ensuring data security involves implementing protocols and technologies to prevent data breaches, whether through cyber threats or accidental data loss.

Although cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and speed of data retrieval are important factors to consider when managing electronic health records, they all become secondary if the integrity and security of the data are compromised. When patient data is at risk, it can lead to various negative outcomes, including legal liability, loss of trust, and damage to the organization's reputation. Therefore, maintaining the integrity and security of electronic health records is paramount.