Security Threat Posed by USB-Based Personal Health Records

Letters20 February 2007Security Threat Posed by USB-Based Personal Health RecordsAdam Wright, BS and Dean F. Sittig, PhDAdam Wright, BSFrom Oregon Health and Science University, and Northwest Permanente Medical Group, Portland, Oregon.Search for more papers by this author and Dean F. Sittig, PhDFrom Oregon Health and Science University, and Northwest Permanente Medical Group, Portland, Oregon.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-146-4-200702200-00020 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: USB (universal serial bus)–based personal health records enable patients to easily transport their health histories to physicians for review. These small, handheld devices (sometimes called “thumb drives” or “flash drives”) contain a database to store personal health information and a software program to display and edit the contents of the database. They are rapidly gaining popularity (1) and have drawn the attention of the popular press (2) and U.S. Congress (3). Recently, they were distributed to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans as part of the city's Health Recovery Week (4). These devices sell for less than $100 and ...References1. Attitudes of Americans Regarding Personal Health Records and Nationwide Electronic Health Information Exchange: Key Findings from Two Surveys of Americans. New York: Markle Foundation; October 2005. Google Scholar2. Landro L. Your medical history on a microchip: having key data ready in an emergency. Wall Street Journal. 27 July 2004:D1. Google Scholar3. Health Information Technology: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 109th Cong, 1st Sess (30 June 2005) (statement of Senator Mike Enzi). Google Scholar4. City sponsors Health Recovery Week: residents to receive free full-service medical care [press release]. New Orleans, LA: City of New Orleans Mayor's Office of Communications; 2 February 2006. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Oregon Health and Science University, and Northwest Permanente Medical Group, Portland, Oregon.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByA Socio-technical Approach to Preventing, Mitigating, and Recovering from Ransomware AttacksMobile personal health records: An evaluation of features and functionalityMyPHRMachines: Lifelong Personal Health Records in the cloudPrivacy, Security and Interoperability of Mobile Health ApplicationsHi-Tech MedicAlert Gadgets Raise QuestionsUSB-based Personal Health Records: An analysis of features and functionalityA Research Agenda for Personal Health Records (PHRs)Encryption Characteristics of Two USB-based Personal Health Record Devices 20 February 2007Volume 146, Issue 4Page: 314-315KeywordsComputer networksComputer softwareComputersConflicts of interestDatabasesElectronic medical recordsHealth information technologySaltsSoftware toolsTheft ePublished: 20 February 2007 Issue Published: 20 February 2007 CopyrightCopyright © 2007 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...