Long term preservation of electronic health records - Recommendations in a large teaching hospital in Belgium

Health records should be readily accessed by authorised persons for diagnosis, and legal security purposes during patient's lifetime and thereafter for research and purposes. Technology makes difficult the preservation of digital material, because of changes in information media, hardware and software evolution, and because of the of its location as well as the complexity of its environment. A committee in a large hospital in Belgium, recommends two complementary approaches : (1) After a patient all his health information should be managed by a unique organisation that would regularly accesses to all data bases concerned by this patient. Health archives should be using XML (Extensible Mark up Language) software family, and set on supports as DM-ROM, to be upgraded or updated when needed This archive media is fast but not (2) Computer output microfilm (COM) and scanners for non electronic data to be appears to be also needed, as it is storage safe for at least 250 years and readable by eye. This archive media is safe but not fast.