Fujifilm and IBM developed a new linear magnetic tape that will store 29.5 billion bits per square inch or 35TB per tape. This is a new worlds record for data density. This new tape is 44 times more dense than the current fourth generation LTO tape.

This is evidence that data tape rotation and storage is alive and well.

Access Information Management announced their acquisition of CDI Vaults. CDI Vaults offered records storage, tape vaulting and shredding services from their Eugene facilities. This provides Access Information Management with service in Oregon and represents their 22nd acquisition. [press release]

David Roe has published an article discussing the differences between document management and records management on the CMSWiRE. While I think it is a bit of semantics it is important to think about the increased importance of a companies records management requirements. In the end, all records are documents but not all documents are records.

Many medical practices are converting to electronic health records. And with the grants offered in the stimulus bill the number is only going to increase. One factor many practices fail to take into account is the security of the documents during the conversion process.

Ed Goodman, of Identity Theft 911, is predicting “There will be lots of lower-paid individuals and there are not always background checks being done. It’s pretty easy to abscond with Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other identifiers.” He suggest making sure you are dealing with a reputable scanning service when you convert your medical records.

The TSA has joined the ranks of Facebook and HSBC Bank for posting information to websites before they are properly redacted. While the goal of making more information public and easily accessible via a website is laudable; if done incorrectly it can cause much more damage than good. That is why more companies are turning to a redaction service. No matter how your organization redacts the information it is important to make sure that the job is done well and is verified before it is posted to a public site

If Google gets their way every thing will be on the cloud. This includes all of your records. But what are the legal implications of no longer controlling company documents? Here is a great four part article on some of the issues you need to pay attention to before jumping into an electronic document management (EDM) system that rests on the cloud.

If you have been reading this blog you are aware of the $19 Billion the government is spending on electronic medical records as part of the stimulus package. The question is now being asked if the technology is ready for the job. Fred Schutte has an article looking at some of the struggles at hospitals who have converted.

In the long term, electronic health records (EHRs) are the right answer. The question is about the short term. What we really need is a national standard for EHRs. Until systems seamlessly integrate we will see many of these issues. I hope the department of Health and Human Services tackles the problem before the cost of fixing it is greater than the cost of implementation.