SPECIAL CARE NEEDED FOR THE HEART OF MEDICAL INFORMATION-SYSTEMS

First characteristics of medical information systems are described. Next the role of the database is considered in more detail, the resulting requirements for security of medical databases are considered. Special attention is given to the requirements resulting from use of the database for medical audit. It is concluded that in databases holding patient care data strict time-stamping is required. Even after expiration of the specified storage period there has to be a certain period when the data should be dormant, in that state they are accessible by the auditor only.