Doctors cry, 'Enough!'

IT wonks, in their perpetual quest to protect computerized data, favor ever-more-complicated user passwords. Doctors are crying, "Enough!"

Nine out of 10 physicians polled in a new study said passwords and the length of time it takes to access electronic health records "negatively impact" job satisfaction. A full 60 percent said it's a major factor in whether they like their work.

Yet passwords are the primary way that health IT professionals protect access to sensitive hospital electronic health records; 83 percent of the 600 health IT decision-makers polled said they use passwords, according to the survey, conducted by Imprivata, a health IT vendor that provides access solutions.

There are other options. High-tech biometrics such as fingerprint scans and voice recognition were used by 37 percent of respondents. Facility access cards came in a close third, at 35 percent.

The survey also found:

• 19 percent of respondents said they don't understand the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, known as HITECH. That's the law that details implementation of EHRs and related financial incentives.

• 38 percent say they can't track EHR security breaches.

• Nearly half aren't sure whether they're subject to state requirements mandating strong identity verification authentication for placing electronic prescription drug orders.

The online study, conducted via Zoomerang, was released on Aug. 17.