CONFIDENTIALITY-HIPAA

Presented by: Sandra Wong-Allen

Patients Rights

• Patients have the right to have their medical history kept confidential to protect their privacy.

Privacy Rule Disclosure

• Disclosing a patient’s personal information can cause very serious professional or personal problems as patients rely on medical professionals, hospitals and other medical facilities to keep their medical history private.

• The HIPAA Privacy Rule also accords certain rights to patients, such as the right to request copies of their health records in paper or electronic format, or to request an amendment of information in their records

HIPAA LAW

• At all times patient information needs to be protected.

• Do not look for a patient information unless it pertains to you!

• Do not discuss a patient’s information with no one outside the practice.

SECURITY RULE• Encrypting and Securing Mobile Computing

Devices, Smartphones, and Tablets.• Password Security-DO NOT SHARE.• Document, Workstation, and Mobile Device

Security-Lock workstation/mobile devices at all times to prevent PHI to get into the wrong hands.

Password SecurityAccessing a portal to gain patient information

Lock your computers when away from your deskThis includes tablets, mobile phones and laptops

Consequences of Violating the Privacy Rule

• Fines ranging from $100 to 1,500,000 per violation.

• Costs and attorneys’ fees, depending on the type of violation.

• Civil lawsuits, misdemeanor charges, the reporting of individual violators to licensing boards for violations, and imprisonment.

Legal feesAttorney’s fees and cost

Being fined for breach of privacy$100 to $1.500,00

Jail TimeBeing imprisoned if sentenced

References

• Fox News. (2008). Report Over 120 UCLA hospital staff saw celebrity health records. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398784,00.html

• Web 2.0 tools. (http://www.go2web20.net/) • Wolper, L.F. (2011). Health care

administration: Managing organized delivery systems (5th ed.). Boston: Jones and Bartlett.