The informatics nurse is continually challenged to uphold ethical principles in practice, advocate for confidentiality, security of information and integrity of data use. Recent advances in the technologies of health informatics present new ethical challenges. Holding the promise of beneficence, these technologies are intended to increase access, improve quality, and decrease the costs of care. Aspects of these technologies, however, create conflicts with the ethical principles of autonomy, fidelity, and justice.
When it comes to electronic health and medical records (EMRs), the digital technology has a few limitations. From the mechanical ability and methods for storage and transmission, to the ways they can be accessed, new and more advanced systems are becoming available every day. However, definite limitations and issues arise from the implementation and use of EMRs and PHRs (personal health records). You may have already reviewed the hurdles created by the local nature of EMRs and their lack of standardization. Additional problems exist with security and privacy of these records