He went on to say that such a smart app also could scan resource Web sites to find new scientific data and government findings that affect patient care. "Those are the things that can start to happen," with blue button technology, Dr. Waldren said.
Despite the myriad possible benefits of downloadable records, however, privacy remains a concern, for patients and physicians alike.
According to the Markle Foundation paper, "Any online download capability for personal health information must be provided via secure access. That means the identity of each individual given credentials to access their own data must be proofed to an acceptable level of accuracy, and the individual must present those credentials or some acceptable token of those credentials upon login in order to get access to the data for download."
Dr. Waldren agreed. "There’s no question that privacy and security are real issues," he said. And that means not only keeping the site secure, but educating patients, too.
"Every time the patient clicks on that blue button, they need to be reminded, ‘You’re doing something that puts your information at risk,’?" he said.
But he added that privacy concerns should not be something that keeps technology like the blue button moving forward.
"I personally view privacy as a balance between benefit and risk. We could put your records in an encrypted format or in a safety deposit box that no one could get to. It would be highly secure and I would bet it would never be released inappropriately," Dr. Waldren said. "But it’s never available to actually help make sure you get good care. And missing data can cause a lot of morbidity and mortality."