Patient confidentiality in the electronic age.

This article presents an overview of confidentiality issues as they relate to patient information stored or disseminated electronically. The three related issues of confidentiality, privacy, and security are defined, and how those issues have changed with the advent of computerization is discussed. Topic discussed are the risks versus the benefits of computerizing; threats to the organization and the patient; and the legal, organizational, and technological solutions that can and should be implemented to ensure all patient-related information is kept confidential and secure.