While the security risk is obviously a huge portion of the objection to HIT and digital records, paper records have also proven to have many security problems (i.e. the Britney Spears flap at UCLA and others). I thoroughly believe that a very slightly higher risk via internet security breaches is worth the life-saving fast access to records, the cost-saving non-repetition of tests, and more.

There are many ways that this electronic system could be made safer as well. Biometric technology is getting better -- perhaps doctors could one day possibly use fingerprints or something to access such sensitive information. The HIT network could also possibly be setup as a network apart from the World Wide Web a la what the military does.

I'm not enough of a technogeek to really know all of the limitations and possibilities, but I really think that any improvement in health records communication is better than the piecemeal paper system that can be a really big hardship for patients trying to get care far from home or from different doctors.