When it comes to electronic health records, what do subpoenas often request?

Subpoenas, which are legal documents that require a person to testify or produce evidence in a legal proceeding, frequently request audit trails when it comes to electronic health records. Audit trails provide a detailed log of who accessed a patient’s record, what changes were made, and when these actions occurred. This information is crucial in legal cases as it helps establish patterns of access and ensures that the privacy and integrity of patient records are maintained.

In the context of legal matters, audit trails can be used to verify compliance with regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and to ascertain whether the handling of a patient’s information was appropriate. The data captured in audit trails can reveal unauthorized access or breach of confidentiality, making it an essential element in investigations related to patient information.

In contrast, while patient satisfaction reports, staff evaluations, and insurance claims may be important for various organizational purposes, they typically do not hold the same significance in legal contexts concerning the compliance and security of electronic health records. Thus, audit trails are the most relevant and frequently requested items in response to subpoenas regarding electronic health records.