The costs of safeguarding privacy: one research organization's experience.

While academic health research has always observed strict vigilance in the guardianship of the rich information found in health databases, new legislation faced by all organizations ups the ante even higher. Research organizations like the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences are delving into even more rigorous policies to keep sensitive information secure while preserving the value that dedicated research provides. The costs of implementing privacy protections are of great concern to Canadian researchers. This report discusses basic costs associated with privacy practices undertaken at the Institute.