Record keeping in the cloud: Ethical considerations

Robert L. Devereaux, Michael C. Gottlieb

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Innovations in the production, storage, protection, and retrieval of digital information occur at breakneck speed. With them can come perceived pressure to transition from paper to electronic records, because doing so may appear to offer benefits for improved patient care. At the forefront of this shift is the popularization of "cloud" computing. While "the cloud" has entered our everyday parlance from Internet-connected televisions to smart phones that track and control our finances, little has been written about how this technology functions and how it may expose practitioners to unforeseen and previously nonexistent risk. In this article we define "the cloud," discuss risks and benefits of its use, and provide questions for practitioners to ask when considering the appropriateness of maintaining patient records in this manner. Considerations are made in light of current federal legislation and recommendations, professional ethical standards and guidelines established by the American Psychological Association, and ethical decision-making practices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)627-632
Number of pages6
JournalProfessional Psychology: Research and Practice
Volume43
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

Keywords

  • Cloud computing
  • Electronic records
  • Ethics
  • Record keeping

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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