[citation needed] A multitude of information is contained within the electronic health including billing information, patient's weight, age, vital signs, radiology images, laboratory test results, immunization status, allergies, medication, medical history and demographics etc.
[citation needed] Regardless of being in a paper form or electronic form, a medical health record is a tool of communication which helps in making clinical decisions, designing regulatory processes, accreditation, education, legal protection, research purposes, service coordination and evaluation of the efficacy and quality of healthcare provided.
The act provides information regarding the rights of patients, obligatory information protection steps by the medical staff and organizations and the steps of registration with reference to the usage of patient's Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record.
[2] Since Electronic Health Records have more of a virtual existence than a physical one, protecting them also requires usage of appropriate technological tools and techniques.
The following measures regarding the protection of Electronic Health Records are worth highlighting: Ensuring the prevention of confidentiality breakage requires the provision of authorized access to the patient's healthcare information.