Article doesn't explain why: All data is stored as plaintext. Including all demographic data.<p>Because otherwise there is no way to match patient records across our (USA) heterogenous IT systems.<p>The two possible technical fixes are<p>#1 Centralization, where every patient is issued an UUID (aka MRN, PID), their demographic data is hidden, and UUID is used to retrieve medical data (ala Translucent Databases).<p>#2 Individualization, where every patient "carries" around their own medical data.<p>We can discuss the social, cultural, bureaucratic, workflow hurdles to either of these solutions, if this thread gets traction.<p>FWIW, I designed and implemented 5 regional health care exchanges 2007-08.