Healthc Inform Res.  2011 Sep;17(3):162-171. 10.4258/hir.2011.17.3.162.

A SWOT Analysis of the Various Backup Scenarios Used in Electronic Medical Record Systems

• Seo HJ
• Kim HH
• Kim JH

• KMID: 1974242
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2011.17.3.162

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Electronic medical records (EMRs) are increasingly being used by health care services. Currently, if an EMR shutdown occurs, even for a moment, patient safety and care can be seriously impacted. Our goal was to determine the methodology needed to develop an effective and reliable EMR backup system.
METHODS
Our "independent backup system by medical organizations" paradigm implies that individual medical organizations develop their own EMR backup systems within their organizations. A "personal independent backup system" is defined as an individual privately managing his/her own medical records, whereas in a "central backup system by the government" the government controls all the data. A "central backup system by private enterprises" implies that individual companies retain control over their own data. A "cooperative backup system among medical organizations" refers to a networked system established through mutual agreement. The "backup system based on mutual trust between an individual and an organization" means that the medical information backup system at the organizational level is established through mutual trust.
RESULTS
Through the use of SWOT analysis it can be shown that cooperative backup among medical organizations is possible to be established through a network composed of various medical agencies and that it can be managed systematically. An owner of medical information only grants data access to the specific person who gave the authorization for backup based on the mutual trust between an individual and an organization.
CONCLUSIONS
By employing SWOT analysis, we concluded that a linkage among medical organizations or between an individual and an organization can provide an efficient backup system.

Keyword

Information Storage and Retrieval; Electronic Medical Records; Medical Care Costs; Computer Security

MeSH Terms

Computer Security
Delivery of Health Care
Electronic Health Records
Electronics
Electrons
Financing, Organized
Health Care Costs
Humans
Information Storage and Retrieval
Medical Records
Patient Safety

Figure

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  Figure 1 Independent backup by medical organizations.

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  Figure 2 Personal independent backup.

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  Figure 3 Central backup by the government. IDC: Internet Data Center.

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  Figure 4 Central backup by private enterprises.

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  Figure 5 Cooperative backup among medical organizations.

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  Figure 6 Backup based on mutual trust between individuals and organizations.

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  Figure 7 Model of decision making for backup scenarios.

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  Figure 8 Medical regulation (Chapter 18-2).

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