1. Confidentiality: A PaConfidentiality: A Pa
to Privacyto Privacy
Sophronia M. McCleSophronia M. McCle
MHA 690: Health CaMHA 690: Health Ca
Instructor : Dr. DaviInstructor : Dr. Davi
07-24-201407-24-2014

2. Medical Confidentiality is No Laughing MatterMedical Confidentiality is No Laughing Matter ::
The need to maintain strict confidentiality of allThe need to maintain strict confidentiality of all
patients health records, regardless of who theypatients health records, regardless of who they
are, or what the treatment is for, the need forare, or what the treatment is for, the need for
ethical behavior is the compliance that all healthethical behavior is the compliance that all health
care providers are expected to advocate for theircare providers are expected to advocate for their
patients.patients.
 How can this training be effective for theHow can this training be effective for the
employees to adhere to patientemployees to adhere to patient
confidentiality?confidentiality?
 The innovation and the improvement inThe innovation and the improvement in
patient’s care and concern come at apatient’s care and concern come at a
price increase in volume of informationprice increase in volume of information
 How can managers avoid this type ofHow can managers avoid this type of
behavior among their employees?behavior among their employees?
 Unachukwu & Unachukwu, 2009Unachukwu & Unachukwu, 2009
 What kind of training canWhat kind of training can
be put into place to protectbe put into place to protect
the patient and preventthe patient and prevent
legal action against thelegal action against the
health care organization?health care organization?

3. Health Information: ConfidentialityHealth Information: Confidentiality
TrainingTraining
 Health care is among the mostHealth care is among the most
personal services rendered in thepersonal services rendered in the
society.society.
 This care requires thatThis care requires that scores ofscores of
personnelpersonnel must have access tomust have access to
intimate patient informationintimate patient information
 In order to receive appropriateIn order to receive appropriate
care, patients must feelcare, patients must feel
comfortable in order to revealcomfortable in order to reveal
personal informationpersonal information
 Gaining the patient trust is mostGaining the patient trust is most
important as a health careimportant as a health care
providerprovider
 The health care worker must treatThe health care worker must treat
patient information confidentially andpatient information confidentially and
protect its securityprotect its security
 Health organizations must determine theHealth organizations must determine the
appropriateness of all requests forappropriateness of all requests for
patient information under applicablepatient information under applicable
federal and state law and act accordinglyfederal and state law and act accordingly
to protect both the patient and theto protect both the patient and the
organizationorganization
 (Health information, 2010)(Health information, 2010)

4.  See something, Say somethingSee something, Say something!!
 Maintaining organizational compliance isMaintaining organizational compliance is
everyone’s responsibility, not just theeveryone’s responsibility, not just the
managers.managers.
 Employees are just as responsible forEmployees are just as responsible for
maintaining ethical compliance as thosemaintaining ethical compliance as those
in a leadership position within thein a leadership position within the
organizationorganization
 Both employers and the employees canBoth employers and the employees can
hold each other accountable for ethicalhold each other accountable for ethical
behavior: See something, Saybehavior: See something, Say
something!something!

5. Health Care Executives Role in Helping toHealth Care Executives Role in Helping to
Implement Confidentiality of Patient’s PrivateImplement Confidentiality of Patient’s Private
Information While HospitalizedInformation While Hospitalized
 Health care executives and organizational leaders should seek to:Health care executives and organizational leaders should seek to:
 Limit access to patient information to authorized individuals onlyLimit access to patient information to authorized individuals only
 Invest in and develop systems that enable organizations to track the use,Invest in and develop systems that enable organizations to track the use,
access and disclosure of health records.access and disclosure of health records.
 Identify special situations that require consultation with senior managementIdentify special situations that require consultation with senior management
prior to use or release of informationprior to use or release of information
 Maintain updated organizational policies that aligns with state and federalMaintain updated organizational policies that aligns with state and federal
regulationsregulations
 Educate staff to policies and changes before the changes takes place.Educate staff to policies and changes before the changes takes place.
 Perform routine system audits to detect breeches in unauthorized access toPerform routine system audits to detect breeches in unauthorized access to
personal health informationpersonal health information

6. Utilize Available Resources to Help DealUtilize Available Resources to Help Deal
With Privacy Crisis and Breaches, and toWith Privacy Crisis and Breaches, and to
Prevent Future IncidentsPrevent Future Incidents
Information Systems
Compliance Officer Risk Management Facility Security

7. ConclusionConclusion
The Organization Mission Statement, Vision and PoliciesThe Organization Mission Statement, Vision and Policies
Should be Strategically Aligned With its Value of The HealthShould be Strategically Aligned With its Value of The Health
Care Delivery to the PatientCare Delivery to the Patient
 Maintaining patient confidentiality and privacy is a challenge as well as a risk thatMaintaining patient confidentiality and privacy is a challenge as well as a risk that
will continue to heighten as health care delivery systems become more advancedwill continue to heighten as health care delivery systems become more advanced
with innovated technology and social communication. Alertness to what iswith innovated technology and social communication. Alertness to what is
happening in a culture of vast changes will not only require the attention ofhappening in a culture of vast changes will not only require the attention of
administrators, board of trustees, and health care managers, but transparency andadministrators, board of trustees, and health care managers, but transparency and
accountability on the part of every stakeholder that is associated with theaccountability on the part of every stakeholder that is associated with the
organization.organization.
 Social Media, 2013).Social Media, 2013).

8. References:References:
Health information confidentiality. (2010).Health information confidentiality. (2010). Healthcare Executive,Healthcare Executive, 25(6), 106-107.25(6), 106-107.
Retrieved fromRetrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/807666600?accountid=32521http://search.proquest.com/docview/807666600?accountid=32521
Social media: Protecting patient confidentiality. (2013).Social media: Protecting patient confidentiality. (2013). HSJ. Co. Uk.HSJ. Co. Uk. RetrievedRetrieved
fromfrom http://search.proquest.com/docview/1417764406?accountid=32521http://search.proquest.com/docview/1417764406?accountid=32521
Unachukwu, I. M.B., & Unachukwu, A. (2009). Medical confidentiality: What does itUnachukwu, I. M.B., & Unachukwu, A. (2009). Medical confidentiality: What does it
mean to the vulnerable?. Rochester: Social Science Research Network.mean to the vulnerable?. Rochester: Social Science Research Network.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1333128doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1333128