Question

How much redaction is necessary to anonymize an electronic health record. Is it enough to redact the name? The name and address? Is a medical record like a finger print?

Answer 1

How much redaction is necessary to anonymize an electronic health record. Is it enough to redact the name? The name and address? Is a medical record like a fingerprint?

• To anonymize an electronic health record it is enough to redact the name and address until and unless you are tested for the medical record. Let me explain to you with an example. Suppose, if you are having a complete body checkup.
• Your report arrives online and you have provided a fake name, fake mailing address. The reports will be coming to that fake mailing address. You received the e-mail and you know what your reports are without even the hospitals getting your real identity.
• But, when it comes to big hospitals where the tests are only done when the individual submits the correct photo identification proofs or address identification proofs like driving license, etc. there will be trouble in redacting the health records.
• In such cases, one cannot redact the information and yes the medical record will become like a fingerprint in this case. Hence, whenever you want to anonymize the electronic health records try to find small hospitals or labs which will provide you with whatever you want without any identity proofs.

Hence, this is how one can anonymize electronic health records through redaction.