This training document provides information on patient confidentiality. It identifies what types of information are considered confidential, such as health records, insurance details, and demographic information. It outlines best practices for ensuring confidentiality, like using screen shields, locking away paper records, and not sharing access passwords. Employees who breach confidentiality policies face penalties according to HIPAA regulations, including fines up to $50,000 or criminal charges. The goal of the training is to educate employees on maintaining confidentiality and protecting private patient information.

1. Training on
Confidentiality
Eferoghene Oghreikanone
Instructor: Hwang-Ji Lu
MHA 690 Health Care Capstone

2. What is Considered Confidential
 Age
 Sex
 Marital status
 Religion
 Race
 Health information (diagnostic
procedures, lab tests, x-rays,
MRI scans, CT scans, etc.)
 Insurance information
 Health problems
(Willison, 2001)

3. How to Ensure Confidentiality
 Computer terminals should not
be left unattended
 When accessing confidential
information on computer it is
necessary to use screen shields
 Paper printouts should not be
left unattended and must be
destroyed (shredded) after use
 Making and keeping copies of
patient information is forbidden
(“Confidentiality of Worker Health
Information”, 2013)
 Patient records must be kept
in secure and locked place
 Only authorized employees
may have access to patient
records
 Access passwords cannot be
shared with other employees
 Patient information can be
discussed only with authorized
staff and in discrete places
(“Confidentiality of Worker Health
Information”, 2013)

4. Responsibility for Breach of
Confidentiality
 All violations of HIPAA
confidentiality obligations must
be immediately reported to the
supervisor
 Violation of HIPAA procedures
and policies (both voluntary and
involuntary) can result in a fine
 Minimum penalty is $100,
maximum - $50,000
 Criminal penalties (up to 10
years in jail) can also apply
(“What are the Penalties for HIPAA
Violations?”, 2015)

5. Effectiveness of the Training
 Employees will understand what patient information is considered
private and confidential
 Employees will learn how to treat confidential information, how to
protect its confidentiality, who can access it, and with whom it can be
discussed
 Employees with receive information about liability for breach of
confidentiality – this will persuade them to treat confidential
information seriously

6. References
 Confidentiality of Worker Health Information. (2013). Workplace
Health & Safety, 61(9), 376-378.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/216507991306100901
 What are the Penalties for HIPAA Violations? (2015). HIPAA Journal.
Retrieved 11 May 2017, from http://www.hipaajournal.com/what-are-
the-penalties-for-hipaa-violations-7096/
 Willison, D. (2001). Privacy and Health Information Systems: a Guide
to Protecting Patient Confidentiality. By J. Goldman and D. Mulligan.
Foundation for Health Care Quality, Seattle, 1996, $25, 45pp.
http://www.qualityhealth.org/frames/public.htm. Health Expectations,
2(2), 137-138. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1369-6513.1999.0040b.x