Information Security Problems and Needs in Healthcare – A Case Study of Norway and Finland vs Sweden

Abstract

In healthcare, the right information at the right time is a necessity in order to provide the best possible care for a patient. Patient information must also be protected from unauthorized access in order to protect patient privacy. It is also common for patients to visit more than one healthcare provider, which implies the need for crossborder healthcare and a focus on the patient process. Countries work differently with these issues. This paper is focused on three Scandinavian countries, Norway, Sweden and Finland, and their information security problems and needs in healthcare. Data was collected via case studies, and the results were compared to show both similarities and differences between these countries. Similarities include the too wide availability of patient information, an obvious need for risk analysis, and a tendency to focus more on patient safety than on patient privacy. Patients being involved in their own care, and the approach of exchanging patient information are examples of differences.