Built-in secure erase on compact cameras is uncommon, and on flash storage it may not be reliable anyway because of wear leveling. A normal in-camera delete or format usually just removes directory information, not all underlying data.

From the options mentioned, the most practical alternatives are:

• use encrypted storage, such as cards with onboard encryption, so recovered data is unreadable without the key
• use wireless transfer workflows to move images off-camera quickly
• use a camera’s internal memory instead of removable cards, then transfer and securely erase from a controlled system

One reported workflow was using Panasonic Lumix cameras with internal memory, transferring files over VPN to a network share, then securely deleting them via a simple batch process. That avoids handling removable cards and may be easier for staff.

So the short answer is: don’t expect a compact camera to offer trustworthy secure deletion by itself. For healthcare use, a better approach is encrypted storage or a controlled transfer-and-erase workflow using internal memory or managed external systems.