Violating HIPAA Case

Disclosing confidential patient information without patient consent can happen in the health care field quite often and is the basis for many cases brought against health care facilities. There are many ways confidential information gets into the wrong hands and this paper explores some of those ways and how that can be prevented.

There are many essential features found in a heath information system that are designed to protect patient privacy. For starters, at this candidate’s organization, every login is specific to an individual nurse and the

10. What measures in terms of personal handling are taken to ensure the privacy of the medical record?

Jim Philips is the attorney for Karen Munstrom. Karen is filing suit against Howard Doe in a domestic dispute. Jim Philips sends Memorial Hospital an original authorization that is signed and dated by Karen Munstrom. The authorization, addressed to your hospital, includes the dates of the records requested. The authorization does not state the type or subject of the information to be disclosed. The records of Ms. Munstrom are related to a stay for alcohol rehabilitation.

Three ways patient confidentiality is maintained in the reception/waiting area of a medical office could be: 1) Do not use the patients’ full name. Only the use of their first name or last name is needed. 2) Make sure that the computer screen in the reception area is not able to be seen by other patients. And make sure medical records are not kept out or open in view of others. 3) Make sure all staff conversations cannot be heard by others. Especially when a patients’ personal information could be overheard.

I know if an employee with our corporation violates the HIPPA law, we will lose our job. That is pretty much the bottom line. We have training, meeting when it comes to protecting and keeping health records

This article has shown how different issues relating to patient privacy can be tricky. There is always the question about what the right thing is to do but there are laws and regulations

It is very important that you store, record and share information securely. Make sure that your writing is eligible so others are able to read it, the individual could end up missing an appointment due to someone else not being able to read your writing. Make sure you only write the facts and do not make anything up, updating all relevant information about an individual when needed. Information can be found by asking family members, medical

Violation of privacy, Take reasonable steps to ensure that health information is stored securely and that patients' data is not available to others who are not authorized to have access. Prevent inappropriate disclosure of individually identifiable information. Chis should not give anyone’s private information out no matter if it is just a name or not. Chris should have referred the food service to the hospital’s HIM’s

In 1996, President Clinton and the US Congress passed/signed the act of HIPPA. HIPPA was enacted to maintain confidentiality of their patient’s information and to protect health insurance coverage for families and workers when they lose or change their job (portability). HIPPA set standards to respect the individual’s rights by exercising such procedures, authorizing and disclosing information. This means that anybody that works at a daily clinical or administrative job should never under any circumstances speak about the patients. If HIPAA violations are violated, this can greatly impact the person working in the medical field. Not only are violations expensive, but the penalties for noncompliance is based on the level of negligence. Criminal

Dr. Patterson’s office called to give patient Sara Martin her results, but her husband answered and asked to relay the message. As a doctor, she cannot give out patient’s information to anyone but the patient. In this situation Dr. Patterson should explain to the husband that information can only be released to the patient and; although he is the husband she would have to sign an information release form. If this information where to get released and she did not want anyone else to know , this would be a HIPAA violation and there can be fines to pay and may lose her

Failure to follow the guidelines of HIPAA will result in termination of employment along with civil and criminal penalties. A tiered structure created for HIPAA violations. First tier for the act of unknowingly or with reasonable cause can have a fine for each violation of $100 to $50,000 and potential jail time up to one year. Second tier states they had reasonable cause but no willful neglect and a fine of $1,000 up to $50,000 for each violation. Third tier the violation was a willful act but corrected in a within a required time period with a $10,000 to $50,000 fine. Both second and third tier have potent jail time up to five years. The fourth tier violation was for personal gain and malicious

Do not discuss patients while you are in public areas. When medical records are not in use, they should be put away. Never remove the patient's official medical record from your office. You should not leave records out where your family members or others may see it. If any copies are made and not used they should be shredded.

•Ability to restrict patients from physicians who are not the “physician of record” (e.g., attending, admitting, surgeon, and consulting)

When writing in patients name and other identifying information, black out patients name before placing in the central bin for pick-up. This ensures patient confidentiality.