A,
As far as medicine goes at this point, I would say "Forget the whole 128-bit AES encryption file and password," and worry about the whole cursive thing. While I agree with you about electronic signatures and verification, et. al., all I really care about is whether my radiology department, lab department and pharmacies accept my electronic documents. It is all very arcane, stupid and ironic.
You see, I can send a faxed script from my desktop with no signature unless it is some type of controlled script. Then I have to print it out, sign it, and fax it. Or, I can use a digital stamp. The pharmacy will want it to look like my signature. For x-rays, I do not need a signature, just a requistion with that says Electronic signature beneath it by name in block letters. Labs are the same way.
Now, the pharmacies that take my FAX to PC scripts (since January 1, 2008 when the stupid federal law about Medicaid scripts came out) require that it say, "Digitally signed by such and such..." They will not accept Electronic Signature.
Now, of course, while they will accept non controlled scripts by fax with no signature, I cannot print out a script and send it without a signature nor with a stamped signature. I guess they think fax is safer which it is, but then they will take voice scripts for Vicodin, which I find to be the least secure.
So, with Version 4, you can include a replica of your signature within AC and it will print out whether printed or faxed.
Sure, I know that anyone with Amazing Charts and my DEA number and license (which I don't always include with my scripts by the way), can basically forge or steal my bitmap or whatever, all I care about is the pharmacy perception.
For the pharmacy, they just want to see "what appears to be a signature," and they are happy. And, that makes me and my patients happy.
Sure eScripts will be the most secure, although I will go there kicking and screaming. And, email would be way better than fax.
