We Can, But Dare We?. Vu H. Chau. Chamberlain College Of

When confidential patient information is disclosed without consent it is a violation of the HIPAA Title II Security Rule. This rule was enacted in response to private information being leaked to the news and emails containing privileged information were read by unauthorized people. Identity theft is a real concern so patient privacy should be taken seriously. This is a rule can easily be broken without the

“Facebook remains the most popular platform for those using just one social media site—fully 79% of those who use just one site report using Facebook. Most Facebook users are actively engaging with their networks on the site. As opposed to simply reading or viewing content, 65% of Facebook users frequently or sometimes share, post or comment on Facebook” (Duggan, Ellison, Lampe, et al, 2015). As discussed previously, privacy and confidentiality is a right that everyone has no matter what. Therefore, healthcare professional’s privacy and communication cannot be entered and examined however; rules and guidelines have been put into place to manage confidentiality in the healthcare setting. In 2003, these guidelines were manifested and are known as the Privacy Rules, which are controlled by HIPAA. These rules were established to safeguard personal identifiable health data, which include an individual’s date of birth, social security number, address, photographs that may identify the patient, and past and current medical history (U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 2006). HIPAA defines “individually identifiable health information” as information that is a subdivision of health data, including demographic information gathered from an individual and is generated or received by a health care provider, health plan, employer, or health care clearinghouse and connects to the previous, current or future physical or

In the world today, smartphones are becoming the “norm”, with basic phones becoming nearly obsolete in recent years. Pairing the overwhelming presence of social media with the rise in usage of smartphones brings to light an entirely new set of problems and challenges regarding patient privacy. According to a 2010 study conducted regarding various boards of nursing, 67% of executive officers surveyed reported receiving complaints about nurses misusing social media (Spector & Kappel,

Did you know that violating HIPAA can lead to criminal charges and even possible jail time? Also can cost you up to $1.5 million a year depending on the violation (Brown,2014). Violating HIPAA can be something as little as talking about the treatment of your patient that day to another nurse in the elevator. In this paper HIPAA will be defined and the importance of HIPAA in the health care system. As well as outcomes of what will happen if laws are violated. In addition, the scenario ending and what should happen to the nurse. Lastly, the advantages and disadvantages of cellphones and electronic devices in healthcare.

A nurse that search records of the patients on different units in the hospital is a clear example of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). HIPAA Provides the ability to transfer and continue health insurance coverage for millions of American workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs; reduce health care fraud and abuse; Mandates industry-wide standards for health care information on electronic billing and other processes; and requires the protection and confidential handling of protected health information. That was passed by Congress in 1996.

HIPAA requires nurses and nursing students to keep patients’ medical records confidential at all time. For instance, I used computer to review patient’s diagnosis, I made sure that I signed off the computer after using it. I also made sure that all the information I brought home with me did not include patient’s name and other information that identify patient identity.

In the scenario discussed the nurse working makes numerous decisions that put both her and her patient at risk. She violates the patient’s privacy not only by taking pictures of him while unconscious, but also by sending them to her friend as well as taking pictures of the patient’s demographics. According to the HIPAA standards, any unauthorized disclosure of private patient information, is a breach of the Privacy Rule (HHS, n.d). It would be a completely different story if the nurse were to have asked the patient once he had recovered if she could take a picture and had gotten his authorization. However, that is not the case and the nurse, if caught, could face penalties. Not only is the nurse violating the patient’s privacy, she is also violating

In the article “Guard against HIPAA violations," the main key point of this article is by using the name of a nurse named Jenna Jones and how she works in a freestanding outpatient clinic that provides primary and prenatal care to woman under the states Medicaid program.It stated how the clinic wanted to adopt an electronic medical record. The article then goes on about stating procedures the clinic would have to take and how they must educate their employees on how to keep HIPAA regulations and how to follow them with the electronic medical record.

When a HIPAA violation has taken place it is important that the person who discovers/discloses the unauthorized information immediately report to their supervisor so that they can contain the breach. The nurse in this case did not handle the case properly. There are four steps to follow through when PHI are accidentally disclosed: 1) contain the breach 2) pre-notify 3) notify 4) investigate and remedial action (Kwiatkowski, 2013). In this case, the nurse knew that she made a mistake by disclosing the young girl’s name and asked that her daughter not share the information with anybody else, but she failed to do so and the rumor quickly spread through four high schools. Therefore, the breach was not contained and further actions needed to take place. The nurse should have called her supervisor about the situation immediately so that an immediate investigation is

The HIPPA privacy rule gives individuals a fundamental new right to be informed of the privacy practices of their health plans and most of their health care providers, along with their personal health information (Pozgar, 2016). There are many legal and ethical implications that come along with the confidentiality of patients and their records and Jennifer violated them. Medical facilities are charged with protecting a patient’s medical records. Although a patient may request copies or sign a release of information form to whom they choose, the medical records belong to the provider. Providers are significantly limited on what they can do with a patient’s medical records. The legal defense for Jennifer is limited because she broke so many

Michael J. Ackerman et al. (2013) describes his experience as well as topics discussed at the meeting of the American Medical Informatics Association that he attends each year. One session titled “Privacy, mHealth, and Social Media,” brought up an important question; can you ethically look up a troubling patient on social media in order to get information that did not add up during your patient interview? (Ackerman, 2013). Resulting from HIPAA only covering providers and not patients, medical information given away on social media by an individual has waved their right to privacy, giving all users access to the information posted (Ackerman, 2013). It is important for social media users to understand that the information they post, as well as store in the personal health record kept on their smart-phone, is accessible to other users and further and unwanted information may also be released or obtained in the case of one losing their phone. Ackerman also states that due to patients now having the ability to send data obtained from m-health devices to their physician and expect an immediate response and interpretation, there are now several guidelines for physicians to follow when using social media (2013).

The health care community has come a long way with introducing technology in such a world that is to remain private. It has opened many doors of convenience for all health care employees. It allows easy access, legible readiness, fingertip readiness and more. Lots of providers and nurses rely on their cell phones and computers when doing patient care, especially at the bedside. You can calculate a quick formula, or look up a new medication and see how it can be added to the plan of care and more. Social media is also used in many ways, especially with advertising. Hospitals, clinics, and many stand alone healthcare facilities advertise through social media for new clientele, new products that they may be offering, or to simply get their business “out there”. But sometimes social media and cell phones can fail us when it is used for reasons other than benefiting the patient. There are laws in place that prohibit healthcare employees from sharing private and personal information that are identifying markers of the patient themselves. Their care and information is to be protected at all times. Here in the scenario a nurse missed a concert of her favorite band. Toward the end of her shift she receives a trauma patient who just so happens to be the lead singer of this band. She in turns takes pictures of him and his home address and other contact info and sends it to her friend who was able to make the show. There are so many things wrong with this scenario. My goal in further

Media and social networking is becoming a fad for consumers. Within health care, media and social networking may enhance the ability for great change. Media and social networking can also play a down pour to HIPPA regulations. Increased security must be placed in the infrastructure of sharing patient information via media and social networking. All patient identifying information must be removed to decrease the changes of identity theft and patient information being leaked to the public.

Professionalism is the trained acts and expert behaviors conducted and expected from the personnel in their occupation (Gokenbach, 2012). The EHR is meant to improve quality of care by providing continuity of care through means of providing health care information to the care providers that assume care over each patient (Search.hhs.gov, 2015). As nurses it is anticipated that we act in a professional manner regarding patient privacy and abide by the outlined laws laid out in by HIPAA regulations it is important to make compliance and professionalism regarding privacy a culture in our workplace that abides by compliance and ensures security (Lynn et al., 2015). The HIPAA act of 1996 ensures patients privacy and information in any form, therefore

Others may say the incident that happens in the case represented is not improper or illegal, however it is illegal due to the fact that reviewing private information (medical records) is not an action protected by any law, regulation or statute. By committing this act the nurse is not providing the patient with a safe place and the patient could not feel comfortable. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was designed to protect and keep safe the privacy of sensitive patient information and combat fraud in the healthcare industry, simplify administration of health insurance, and promote the use of medical savings plans for employees.