| Course | HIM 425 Healthcare IT Infrastructure and Network Management |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 8 |
| Paper type | undergraduate discussion post on ownership of health data |
| Length | About 350 words, 3 pages |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Southern New Hampshire University |
| Program | BS Health Information Management |
| Updated | September 2026 |
Free sample paper for HIM 425 Module 8
Module Eight Discussion
The Clause on Page 31
While reviewing Cedar Fork Community Health's hosting contract, I found a clause on page 31 allowing the vendor to use de-identified patient data "for product development and analytics." Our executive director asked a simple question: isn't that our data? After this module, I think the honest answer is that it depends on what you mean by "our."
In most states, the provider owns the physical and electronic record as a business record, while patients hold strong rights over the information in it. HIPAA gives patients the right to see and copy their records, request amendments and learn about certain disclosures, but it does not call them owners. A few states go further; New Hampshire's statute, for example, declares medical information in a patient's record to be the property of the patient. Hall and Schulman (2009) argue that ownership is a poor fit for medical information because property law assumes one owner with the right to exclude others, while health information is shared among patients, clinicians, payers and researchers, each with legitimate interests.
Others want ownership to move toward patients. Kish and Topol (2015) argue that patients should own their data because they generate it and because ownership would let them decide who uses it, including for research. Mikk et al. (2017) describe a pathway toward patient data ownership through portable, patient-controlled records and argue that it could improve care by letting data follow the person.
For our contract, ownership mattered less than control. We asked the vendor to add language stating that Cedar Fork retains all rights to its data, that every record comes back to us in a form our next system can read should we ever leave and that any use of de-identified data requires our written approval. I am not sure patients would see much difference between Cedar Fork owning their data and a vendor using it, though, and none of them were asked. For classmates: does your organization's contract with its record vendor say who owns the data, and should patients have a say in secondary uses?
References
Hall, M. A., & Schulman, K. A. (2009). Ownership of medical information. JAMA, 301(12), 1282-1284. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.389
Kish, L. J., & Topol, E. J. (2015). Unpatients: Why patients should own their medical data. Nature Biotechnology, 33(9), 921-924. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3340
Mikk, K. A., Sleeper, H. A., & Topol, E. J. (2017). The pathway to patient data ownership and better health. JAMA, 318(15), 1433-1434. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.12145
What the HIM 425 Module 8 instructions ask for
The data ownership discussion in HIM 425 typically asks who owns health information and how laws, contracts and technology shape the answer. A post of a page or so, with a few scholarly or legal sources in APA 7, suits most versions, followed by replies. Start from a concrete situation, such as a vendor contract, a patient's request for data or a research partnership, and separate ownership of the record from rights over the information in it. Mention federal rights under HIPAA and at least one example of state law, weigh scholarly arguments on patient ownership and state your own position. Close by asking classmates how their organizations handle ownership or secondary use in practice.
How this HIM 425 Module 8 discussion example is built
A clause on page 31 of Cedar Fork Community Health's hosting contract lets the vendor use de-identified data for product development. The post explains that providers usually own records as business records while HIPAA gives patients rights of access and amendment, and it cites New Hampshire's statute calling medical information the patient's property. Hall and Schulman argue ownership fits health information poorly, while Kish and Topol and Mikk and colleagues argue for patient ownership. The writer concludes that control matters more than ownership, describes contract changes on data rights, return and approval of secondary use and asks classmates whether patients should have a voice. The post admits that patients were never consulted about the clause.
Where the HIM 425 Module 8 rubric puts the points
Closing HIM 425 posts are usually evaluated on accurate explanation of ownership and patient rights, use of credible sources on both sides, connection to infrastructure or contracts studied in the course, a clear personal position and engagement with classmates, plus APA 7 citations. Posts that stand out distinguish ownership of the record from control of the information and apply that distinction to a real decision, such as a contract clause. Graders reward writers who acknowledge that patients are often absent from these decisions. Accurate state law examples, clearly marked as examples rather than national rules, show careful legal reading instead of broad generalization. A specific contract example keeps the post practical and grounded.
HIM 425 Module 8 help: the mistakes that cost points
Ownership posts lose points when they claim that patients legally own their records everywhere, treat HIPAA as an ownership law, cite opinions without identifying them as arguments or skip the connection to course topics such as hosting and contracts. Another frequent gap is ignoring de-identified data and secondary use. If your prompt frames the question differently, such as data from wearable devices, genetic testing or research repositories, send it with any readings so the post fits. Tell us your state if the prompt asks about local law, and whether your instructor wants a firm position. A custom post can follow this path: situation, legal default, state example, arguments, position and question.
Get HIM 425 Module 8 written to your instructions
Send the HIM 425 Module 8 discussion prompt and any contract, policy or scenario it mentions. The post will separate record ownership from patient rights, cite law and scholarship on both sides, take a clear position and pose a question for classmates, ready in 24 to 48 hours with the first request free. The paper above is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Southern New Hampshire University document.
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HIM 425 Module 8 questions, answered
Where can I find a free HIM 425 Module 8 Discussion sample?
The complete HIM 425 Module 8 post is on this page: who owns health data once a vendor hosts it, from provider records to patient rights and contract terms.
Who owns a patient's medical record in the United States?
In most states the provider owns the record as a business record, while patients hold rights under HIPAA to access, copy and request amendments.
Does any state say patients own their medical information?
Yes. New Hampshire's statute, for example, declares medical information in a patient's record to be the property of the patient.
Why do some scholars argue against a property model for health data?
Health information is shared among many parties with legitimate interests, which fits poorly with property law's single owner and right to exclude.
What should a hosting contract say about data ownership?
That the organization keeps all rights to its data, that the vendor returns everything usable at contract end and that secondary use needs approval.