High School

A healthcare provider stores data in patient portals at multiple clinics. If a doctor makes a change to a patient's medication in the portal, the change is not reflected across all portals. This leads to patients being billed for the wrong medications.

What data integrity problem does this describe?

a. Transfer
b. Gathering
c. Manipulation
d. Replication

Answer :

d. The problem described is related to data replication, which is crucial for accurate billing and maintaining data integrity in patient portals.

When changes are made in one patient portal and those changes are not reflected in other systems, it leads to inconsistencies. These inconsistencies can cause patients to be billed for wrong medications, indicating an issue where data is not accurately replicated across all systems within the healthcare provider's network.

Correct data replication is crucial for maintaining data integrity in Electronic Health Records (EHRs). It ensures that any changes, like a medication adjustment made by a doctor, are updated across all platforms. This is essential for patient safety, billing accuracy, and legal compliance with regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which mandates the protection and confidentiality of patient information.

An audit trail feature in EHRs can help track changes and access to patient information, thereby supporting data integrity and compliance with HIPAA. This feature helps to ensure that data is not only secure but also accurate across all patient care touchpoints.