Confidentiality

1. Patient Information & ConfidentialityBrookeThomas 3/17/16
Ashford University
Dr. Rockie McDaniel
MHA 690Healthcare Capstone

2. Overview
• What is confidentiality?
• Patient Health Information
• Breach of Privacy
• Safeguarding PHI
• Consequences for violating privacy laws

3. What is Confidentiality?Why is it Important?
 Confidentiality is defined as rule in bioethics stating that the information a patient
gives to healthcare providers in private and has limits on how, when, and with whom it
can be shared. Usually the provider must obtain patient permission to make a
disclosure.
 If private patient information were not protected, trust in the physician-patient
relationship would be diminished.
 If a patient becomes less likely t share sensitive information especially health
information that could negatively affect their care and makes the physicians job
impossible to perform.

4. Protected Health information: PHI
 Anything that contains identifiable patient information
 Any form of information: written, verbal, or electronic
 Demographics, laboratory results, medical history, etc.
 HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability & AccountabilityAct (1996): Legally prohibits the
reckless access, use, and distribution of patients private medical information.

5. Plan Implementation
 Continue to follow HIPAA guidelines:
 Unauthorized users/ access will be prosecuted.
 Routine training and real life scenarios.
 Implement background checks on all employees that will be directly accessing PHI.
 Fingerprint verification for computer access.
 Only medical staff that should have access are :
 Physicians
 Medical Assistant
 Billing Staff:Only to access patient chart notes or to provide information to aid claims
process.

6. Tips for success
 Never leave computer unattended while viewing patients information.
 Never let others use your password or log onto system for someone using your
fingerprint.
 If submitting information electronically always use a secure connection and encrypted
information.
 Never share or discuss patient information is a public area.

7. Conclusion
• Keeping patient information is the responsibility of the whole
organization; not just one person.
• Only share information with authorized individuals approved by the
patient.
• Don’t break the Law: HIPAA violations can come with a pretty leafy
fine and federal jail time.

8. Resources
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