PSYCHOTHERAPY RECORDS

[Peter Nevins]

I need a database that can accomadate continuous import of session notes, a
weekly imput which may go on for several years. AS well as the usual contact
information,,dob, etc any templates already out there?

 

[John Vinson]

On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 07:04:19 -0700, Peter Nevins <Peter

I need a database that can accomadate continuous import of session notes, a
weekly imput which may go on for several years. AS well as the usual contact
information,,dob, etc any templates already out there?

Probably not... and given the weak security that Access provides, and
the undoubted need for confidentiality and protection of such records,
I'd be really leery of using Access for the purpose.

If you do decide to use Access, don't expect to base it on a template.
Build it yourself; this would be pretty easy - a table for Patients,
related one to many to a table for Sessions (or, do you do group
therapy? it might be a many to many), and Sessions related one to many
to a table of Notes. It would be a straightforward matter to set up a
Form for the Sessions table, with a combo box to select the patient,
and a subform for Notes from that session.

Again... review the HIPAA regulations on requirements for
confidentiality and security of medical records. They're pretty
stringent and the penalties can be drastic; and think about what would
happen if some hacker (or computer-savvy but disenchanted patient)
should get their hands on your entire file of notes.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[Baz]

On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 07:04:19 -0700, Peter Nevins <Peter


Probably not... and given the weak security that Access provides, and
the undoubted need for confidentiality and protection of such records,
I'd be really leery of using Access for the purpose.

If you do decide to use Access, don't expect to base it on a template.
Build it yourself; this would be pretty easy - a table for Patients,
related one to many to a table for Sessions (or, do you do group
therapy? it might be a many to many), and Sessions related one to many
to a table of Notes. It would be a straightforward matter to set up a
Form for the Sessions table, with a combo box to select the patient,
and a subform for Notes from that session.

Again... review the HIPAA regulations on requirements for
confidentiality and security of medical records. They're pretty
stringent and the penalties can be drastic; and think about what would
happen if some hacker (or computer-savvy but disenchanted patient)
should get their hands on your entire file of notes.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

Just to emphasise what John says: if you do this in Access, you should
install the database on a computer which is not networked, is not connected
to the internet, and is in a locked room to which only trusted personnel
have access. And be very, very careful about backup media also: they should
be handled only by trusted personnel, and should be securely locked away
when not in use. John is not kidding about the weakness of Access security:
given an Access mdw (workgroup information) file, it is very easy indeed to
extract all the usernames and passwords.