Georgia health connection e-newsletter, Feb. 2009

Become a Wise Health Consumer!
Welcome to Georgia Health Connection, a new monthly e-newsletter from the Georgia Department of Community Health. The first edition of Georgia Health Connection is launched in conjunction with Wise Health Consumer Month, a national effort that was created by the American Institute of Preventive Medicine to increase awareness around the importance of choosing quality health care services.
Look for information each month pertaining to various health topics and visit georgiahealthinfo.gov to find what you need to become a Wise Health Consumer.
Listen to the February edition of the Georgia Wellcast to learn more about georgiahealthinfo.gov and Wise Health Consumer Month. Click on the Georgia Wellcast icon.
Health Information Security and Privacy
The Future of Health Care is in Information Technology
When you visit a new physician, are you concerned that you'll never remember your entire medical history? Have you ever forgotten which medicines you are taking, what allergies you have or the last time you took certain medical tests? If your physician is using Electronic Health Records (EHRs), you will no longer need to commit your medical history to memory!
So what exactly is an EHR? It is a computerized version of your medical history. Many physicians across Georgia are currently in the process of converting traditional paper records to EHRs. By using EHRs, your medical information is electronically stored and can be shared by any physician treating you. Physicians using EHRs can instantly see your medical history including test results, allergies, and medications so time could be saved in an emergency, as well as money, by not repeating costly medical tests.
Other benefits of EHRs include providing greater security and privacy than paper records. Just like paper records, EHRs must comply with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules,

regulations that require your health information to be protected. Unlike paper records, electronic health records can be encoded so that only authorized individuals can view them. Also a log is created every time someone views an EHR.
To learn more about the security and privacy of EHRs, as well as the benefits of electronic health information exchange, log onto georgiahealthinfo.gov and click the Health Information Security and Privacy box on the Home Page.