New whitepaper explores key components of data segmentation in health information

A new whitepaper recently released by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, authored by faculty and researchers at The George Washington University's Department of Health Policy and researchers at AcademyHealth, explores key components of data segmentation, circumstances for its use, associated benefits and challenges, various applied approaches, and the current legal environment surrounding data segmentation in the area of health information exchange.

Data segmentation can be defined as the process of sequestering from capture, access or view certain data elements that are perceived by a legal entity, institution, organization, or individual as being undesirable to share. In the case of health information, some patients may prefer to withhold or sequester certain elements of their medical record, often when it is deemed by them (or on their behalf) to be "sensitive," whereas others may feel strongly that all of their health information should be shared under any circumstance.

The report titled, "Data Segmentation in Electronic Health Information: Policy Considerations and Analysis," analyzes barriers to data segmentation, examines existing practices and applications, and recommends relevant policy approaches for moving forward with meaningful data segmentation. The authors call for additional financial support for increased evidence generation to help foster individual patient control and autonomy as it relates to data segmentation.

The report's lead author, Melissa Goldstein, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy, notes: "Our hope is that this whitepaper will help facilitate informed decision making by detailing the issues, nuanced considerations, and possible tradeoffs associated with various approaches to and uses of data segmentation in health information exchange."

In the current HIT environment, determinations of what specific data are eligible for exchange, who is allowed access, under what circumstances access is granted and for how long, are all decisions rarely being made by the individual. So the question of who should actually have authority to determine and apply such preferences has emerged as a significant issue.