Medical records are stuffed full of information that thieves would want. Identity thieves would clamor for identification data like policy record numbers, names and addresses. Insurance companies would also love to get some of that advance information to better determine who would be an unduly-high risk, protection against pre-existing conditions or not. While expanding federal laws are designed to protect against this sort of thing, software like drchrono looks to provide a more physical protection against medical record theft.

The drchrono system is a cloud-based EMR--Electronic Medical Records--platform that provides an extra layer of security for records. While records are needed in more places, and on more devices, this increased demand simply underscores the need for better protection of same. Most EMR systems offer at least some note of security in the form of user name / password authentication. But drchrono steps things up by not only requiring that level of protection, but also requiring the use of a one-time security code, which can be generated on a mobile device, but changes every 20 seconds, so even if one of the codes was actually obtained, it would be useless in a matter of seconds.

The combination of security steps not only requires a user to have the necessary device in question, but also know the password and user name combination to access the records as well as know how to get the second authentication code. Not a huge problem for an authorized user, but a big problem for outside users who may be out to steal records.

Eventually, according to drchrono's co-founder and CEO, Michael Nusimow, the kind of protection afforded by drchrono will allow medical professionals to write prescriptions from tablets, even for narcotics and controlled substances as needed. 

The drchrono system currently available with a free download, but the full level of protection requires a paid download to activate the second-level protection features.

Protecting medical records is an important part of our healthcare system in general. Yet at the same time, protection measures can be too powerful, making it difficult, if not impossible, for them to be accessed by those who need access most, when they most need it.

The drchrono system looks to split the difference between ease of use and protection by requiring a secondary, user-specific level of protection that can't be easily duplicated or broken. The drchrono system may be just what our ailing healthcare system needs in order to get truly off the ground, reduce costs to users, and in turn, put a little extra punch back in a sagging overall economy.