For this week’s Homework help – Discussion Board, review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Web site.
This Web site provides a thorough definition of HIPAA, as well as past violation cases and penalties for nor adhering to the law. Privacy is very important to all of us, and no one wants their health information on display to the public. This week’s discussion will focus on your experience with HIPAA. Without disclosing any personal health info (or that of a friend or family member), answer the following questions:
Provide an example of when you did not think HIPAA was adhered to as well as it could have been. Did you speak up and let those involved know?
Is there anything that you think should be changed regarding the HIPAA law? If so, why?
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As healthcare professionals, it is our responsibility to ensure that patient privacy is maintained and protected. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that sets standards for protecting patients’ health information. However, there have been instances where HIPAA has not been adhered to as well as it could have been.
An example of a HIPAA violation occurred when a hospital employee accessed the medical records of a celebrity who was admitted to the hospital. The employee then leaked the celebrity’s medical information to the media. This was a clear violation of HIPAA, and it was a breach of the patient’s privacy. Such incidents can have a negative impact on patients’ trust in healthcare providers and the healthcare system as a whole.
It is important to speak up when HIPAA violations occur. In this case, the hospital employee responsible for the breach should have been reported to their supervisor or to the hospital’s privacy officer. It is also important to educate healthcare workers about the importance of HIPAA compliance and patient privacy.
There are also some aspects of HIPAA that could be improved. For example, some critics argue that HIPAA’s privacy requirements are too complex and may hinder patient care. Additionally, there have been concerns that HIPAA’s enforcement mechanisms are not strong enough. These issues could be addressed by updating and strengthening the law, while also providing more education and training to healthcare professionals.
HIPAA is an important law that helps protect patients’ privacy and maintain the trust between patients and healthcare providers. It is important for healthcare workers to adhere to HIPAA’s standards and to speak up when they see violations occurring. By working together to protect patient privacy, we can ensure that patients receive the care they need in a safe and secure environment.
References:
Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). HIPAA basics for providers: Privacy, security, and breach notification rules. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/basics/index.html
McGraw, D. (2015). HIPAA: Moving forward. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 22(2), 437-440. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocv020.
