HIPAA: Identifying Patient Identity

. HIPAA privacy rules are complicated and extensive, and set forth guidelines to be followed by health care providers and other covered entities such as insurance carriers and by consumers. HIPAA is very specific in its requirements regarding the release of information, but is not as specific when it comes to the manner in which training and policies are developed and delivered within the health care industry. This paper will discuss how HIPAA affects a patient's access to their medical records, how and under what circumstances personal health information can be released to other entities for purposes

165). The HIPAA regulations are set as a protection of Personal Health Information (PHI) and all of its areas of concern, i.e. – name, condition, symptoms, etc… Legally, the nurse is not subjected to any clearly defined healthcare related laws, at the federal level, liable under the Privacy Acts of 1974 which protects any personal identification records or information relating to the patient’s privacy. The nurse takes photographs of the patient’s demographic information from his electronic health record which violates the regulations set forth by the Privacy Acts of 1974 (Privacy Act of 1974, n.d.). In many aspects of this scenario, a major concern lies on the nurse’s ethical, unethical, practice. The American Nurses Association (ANA) delineates in Provision Three of the Code of Ethics for Nurses “The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.” (ANA, 2015). The nurse is in many violations enough to end their career in this situation. The privacy of the patient is a right not a privilege. With the increase usage of social media, this invasion of privacy on the patient could potentially be leaked and could lead to jeopardizing the patient’s safety while in the hospital.

The main goal of HIPAA is to protect unauthorized access and misuse of confidential health information. It allows for the safe storage of any health facts used, collected, transmitted or maintained by any health organization. It states that all health information about a particular client is completely confidential, regardless of what the format is and whether it is transmitted, maintained or collected. Protected information is that health information that already identifies the patient or could be used in order to identify the patient; it also relates to any of the patient’s past, present or future health conditions, any treatment the patient receives and any payment the patient makes toward their care.

HIPPA is the law to protect health information communicated in any manner. It states the privacy and security regulations on the rights and standards of the patient. It also defined the penalties for those who fail to protect the individual’s identifiable health information. The information on patient’s name, diagnosis, important activities for the shift and room number are all included in the HIPPA privacy rule. HIPPA privacy rule part § 162.1002 Medical data code sets. (i) Prevention. (ii) Diagnosis. (iii) Treatment. (iv)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed by congress in 1996, and helps to ensure the privacy and security of Electronic Health Records (EHR's). By following the rules and regulations set forth under HIPAA, we can ensure the safety of patients' EHR's. We are responsible for protecting patients' records, and there are many measures we can take in order do this. Firstly, we must always keep patients' health information private. This means no discussing the records with people that are not authorized to know, and even then, we should only disclose the minimum necessary amount of information possible. For covered entities, we must designate a privacy and security officer to ensure the privacy

Data Protection Act: Patient information has to be kept private. Health care professionals and their affiltes must not allow unauthorised access to sensitive patient information. The Health information portability and accountability act of 1996, also known as HIPAA, contains a clause designed to protect patient privacy. The rules ensure that health care professionals take prudent steps to protect the confidentiality of communications with individual patients. Patients can also request that health care professionals correct may inaccurate person health information in their records.

It is important for all health care recipients and health care providers to read information regarding HIPAA that way everyone will be informed of what rights are privacy they are entitled to and the workers are aware of what information needs to remain confidential. People can receive handouts regarding information about HIPAA, as well as the Internet. There are hundreds of online websites that people can go to in order to receive more information on how HIPAA works and what is required to ensure everyone follows the laws that go along with HIPAA. Breaking the law can have some major consequences so it is important to understand HIPAA and what privacy laws are enforced to protect a patient’s information. The information that is

There is the privacy rule that tells what information can be used or not. The security rule that covers entities with confidentiality and the availability of ePHIL and last the Breach notification rule that lets the U.S department of health and human service talk to the media about infected patients if it will cause harm to the population. (HIPAA Basics for Providers: Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, 2016) My facility is preventing HIPAA violations by covering all paper info with a blank sheet over patient records, there is also limited people allowed in behind the nurse's desk where the computers are kept the possible threats of the EHR could be hacker obtaining patient records. Patient information could be breached unintentionally for example people walking by and looking at the computer or may be heard over the telephone or even if a device is stolen or lost are ways that could be breached. (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014)Healthcare workers could also access anyone’s chart including their own without permission. HIPPA violations could result in suspension, fines, and jail

1. Under HIPAA, are you legally allowed to view this patient’s medical information? Why or why not?

For the duration of reading this article, it explains everything that must be followed and met in the practices of the facilities. These include privacy guidelines, electronic transaction guidelines, and just overall security as a whole. With all of these put in place the patients that are attending the hospital should be joyous to know that their records are for the most part safe, secure, and in the right hands. Meaning that there is no chaos and everything is peaceful until there is a corrupt politician wanting to spread illegal information about their opponents, someone letting their guard down, or worse, someone hacking into the system and causing a catastrophe which is why HIPAA was created in the first place. Using this system can protect the hospital during times when someone has hacked into the system if they have followed all the rules and such to the

Any patient that is seen by a physician within the United States is to be protected by the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” or HIPAA, which was passed into law in 1996 (Jani, 2009). All health care facilities dealing with any protected health information (PHI) are to ensure that all physical/electronic processes are safeguarded from any third party entity or unauthorized personnel according to HIPAA. All health care data to include any medical insurance

Patient privacy is imperative and it is needed to comply with The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) If patient information is visible or accessible the information could be stolen. During the audit multiple floors were inspected and no patient data was found on copy machines, printers or easy access areas.

HIPAA was put in place to help set standards on protecting a patients personal health information, therefore HIPAA does affect a patient’s access to medical records. A patient can review or obtain a copy of their records by submitting, to the physician (covered entity), a request for such in writing or a medical release form. In which case the covered entity can release a “designated record set” of certain personal

Lack of patients’ trust in privacy and confidentiality can lead to reluctance in disclosing their pertinent medical information. Nurses have the ethical obligation to protect their patients’ private health information. Is electronic health records (EHR) compromising patient confidentiality despite laws and professional codes that protect patients' privacy

In my future in the medical field I would like to one day work in a private doctor’s office or a hospital. Following HIPPA guidelines is very important in both these settings. There are many ways patient information could be at risk. In an office setting the best way to ensure HIPPA guidelines are being followed is to be very diligent. I would make sure patient information is kept to a minimum on the sign in sheet and that is stay behind the desk when not in use. I would also double check everything that is given to patients to make sure something is not accidentally given to the wrong patient. Another way I would protect patients information would be to never give personal information over the phone and always make sure when faxing information