Why Privacy Matters in Health Care Delivery: A Value Proposition

Privacy is important in health care delivery. Effective and efficient health care delivery is about exploiting information - accurate information, complete information. Without privacy, patient trust is diminished, information flow may be compromised and, so too, patient care. When patient care is compromised, inefficiencies emerge and there are verifiable costs to the individual, to the provider and to the health care system as a whole. Privacy, therefore, should be seen as a cornerstone of successful business operations in health care not an afterthought driven by compliance issues.