The importance of confidentiality in health care

1. CONFIDENTIALITY IN THE
HEALTHCARE
KIEOSHA DAVIS
INSTRUCTOR: HWANG- JI LU
JUNE 15, 2017

2. INTRODUCTION
Today I’m here to inform you about the importance of confidentiality
in the health care system. According to Fox News (2008) it was
reported that over 120 UCLA hospital staff looked at celebrities’ health
records without permission between 2004 and 2006. So that this won’t
happen again this is a presentation displaying the significance of
privacy and confidentiality.

3. CONFIDENTIALITY
Confidentiality is one of the essential responsibilities
of a medical practice. It entails health care
professionals to keep a patient’s medical and health
information private, unless one party gave the ok to
release information.

4. WHO ARE INVOLVED?
Patient
Health care provider

5. WHY IS CONFIDENTIALITY SIGNIFICANT?
Patients share personal information with health care
professionals
If information is not protected, the trust with physician-
patient relationship will be broken
Because the patient won’t be honesty about their care, can
soon have a negative effect on the patient’s health.

6. STATE CONFIDENTIALITY LAWS
 Many states control and disclose medical information through statutes
addressing any health confidentiality information
 Biggest dilemma is clarification on patient confidentiality can be violated
 If you go to court, that means your information becomes more public, and that’s
the reason you’re there in the first place
 Develop safeguards (which will prevent and place a balance between protecting
confidentiality and the need to share information; to treat the patients, ensure
quality health care, and behavior research that will lead to health advances)

7. CONFIDENTIALITY INFORMATION
Data that should not be released unless authorized includes,
Name
Age
Gender
Race
Religion
Diagnosis/Prognosis
Lab results, blood work, x-rays and any procedures done
Insurance

8. WHAT IF A FAMILY MEMBER ASKS HOW
THE PATIENT IS DOING?
 Have a contract out stating that if a patient is not capable of talking,
moving, or making decisions, they give a spouse, friend or family
member the right for information to be shared
 And if capable before you discuss health information, ask patient are
you ok with me going any further discussing your medical
information
•

9. SECURITY/PASSWORDS
Log-off computer
Choose different passwords every month
Never set computer to remember password
Using numbers, letters, and symbols are useful

10. WHAT DOES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIRE?
 Restricts any shared information given out, unless patient gives
permission to providers and health care system
 Proper care entails patient information to be discussed with all health
care team, whose involved in that specific case
 According to (HIPAA), it is mandatory that policies protect the
privacy of patients’ electronic information, involving procedures for
computer access and security

11. UPHOLD CONFIDENTIALITY
• Laws and regulations need to stay with the person
• Be meticulous on online consent
• No cellphones, tablets should be used on floor
• Offer training regularly

12. NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

13. POINTING FINGERS
Someone will always place the fault on someone else
 Always as a health care provider protect yourself, either signing an
agreement, or making conversations with patients; ensuring that
there will be another team member listening to this situation; if
second opinion is needed

14. CONCLUSION
The situation that happen from UCLA is what really happens with employees in
real life. Some employees forget where they work, and speak about information
that is private and confidential because that’s their coworker forgetting there are
consequences and repercussions for their actions. This presentation was to inform
institutions and health care providers the negative and the positive effects on what
can be done to keep a patient health information confidential.

15. REFERENCES
1. Berg, J., D, J., & H, M. (2011). Patient Confidentiality: Privacy and Public Health. Retrieved from
http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/content/bioethics/art3401.html
2. Confidentiality: Ethical Topic in Medicine. (2017). Depts.washington.edu. Retrieved 15 June 2017,
from https://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/confiden.html
3. Fox News. (2008). Report: Over 120 UCLA hospital staff saw celebrity health records (Links to an
external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved
from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398784,00.html
4. Wolper, L.F. (2011). Health care administration: Managing organized delivery systems (5th ed.).
Boston: Jones and Bartlett.