The need for quality improvement and for cost saving are driving both individual choices and health system dynamics. The health services research that we need to support informed choices depends on access to data, but at the same time, individual privacy and patient-health care provider confidentiality must be protected.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 Human Subjects Protection and Health Services Research in Federal Regulations
3 Best Practices for IRB Review of Health Services Research Subject to Federal Regulations
4 Best Practices for IRB or Other Review Board Oversight of Health Services Research Not Necessarily Subject to Federal Regulations
5 Recommendations for Next Steps
References
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Appendix A Study Activities
Appendix B Institutional Review Boards and Health Services Research Data Privacy: A Workshop Summary
Appendix C Protecting the Health Services Research Data of Minors
Appendix D Confidentiality of Health Information: International Comparative Approaches
Appendix E Biographical Sketches