Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which Congress passed in 1996, is known by its abbreviation, HIPAA. Health care organizations, providers, and business associates are required by the HIPAA Privacy laws to establish and adhere to policies that guarantee the security and confidentiality of PHI when it is handled, exchanged, transmitted, or received.
This covers all types of PHI, including as oral, written, and electronic records. HIPAA mandates that protected health information, such as patient health records, demographic data, physical or mental health information, details about how medical payments are made, and client identities, be handled securely and in confidence. The Privacy Rule strikes a compromise, allowing the release of health information that is required for patient treatment as well as other significant goals. Penalties, both criminal and civil, may arise from noncompliance of HIPAA (42 USC § 1320d-5).
EXAMPLES OF HIPPA VIOLATIONS:
• Inappropriate disposal of patient records; before discarding a patient’s record, shredding is required.
• The term “insider snooping” describes relatives or colleagues who check into a person’s medical records without permission. Clearance levels, tracking systems, and password protection can help prevent this.
• Discharging patient data to a non-designated third party; patient data may only be disclosed to the precise individual named on the authorization form.
• Sharing information with the incorrect patient; this occurs when someone discloses information to the incorrect patient by accident. When two patients have the same or a similar name, this can occasionally occur.
• Storing confidential health information in an unprotected location, such a stolen laptop. Electronically stored private data must be kept on a secure device. This holds true for a mobile device such as a laptop or thumbnail drive.
SCENARIOS OF HIPPA VIOLATIONS:
• Sharing information about clients in your care with friends and family; • Talking about personal health information in public
• Not shutting off your computer or any computer system that houses private health information; • Talking about private health information over the phone in a public place; • Sending private health information via an unprotected text message or email
CONFIDENTIALITY OF CLIENT MEDICAL INFORMATION:
People who are under our care count on us to protect their Protected Health Information (PHI) and keep it secure. Client-specific information is never used, disclosed, or discussed by Elite Concierge Nurses (ECN) with anybody unless the client gives permission to do so or we are required or permitted by law to do so. ECN protects client medical information, including that found in client charts, by maintaining its confidentiality and putting in place the necessary security measures. Additionally, ECN employs suitable PHI security procedures in all of its communications.