New concerns regarding health care information misuse. In an article from MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23392229/ they highlight the impact an impostor can have on your health when your information is abused.

This should bring attention to the need for medical facilities, and anyone keeping medical information, to be prepared to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the information, as well as protecting it from loss.

A shift from paper based information management to electronic management, enables greater efficiencies of information management, including sharing of information, but also enables loss of information at a much greater level than anytime before in history.

Organizations which have not moved to encrypted storage for sensitive information should do so as soon as possible, and improved authentication and authorization models must be put in place where they are lacking.

Systems must be put in place that ensures that the identity used is that of the person receiving health care, and that only the information needed is available to personnel who provides care, or otherwise handles the information.

According to FTC, 3% of identity theft victims have had someone else use their medical benefits. With identity theft growing, and medical care becoming more expensive, leaving more out, and the move towards electronic health information management, we are poised for the perfect storm.