2. What is Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a set of rules or a promise that limits access
or places restrictions on certain types of information. Within
the context of professional ethics, observing the principle of
confidentiality means keeping information given by or about
an individual in the course of a professional relationship secure and
secret from others. This confidentiality is seen as central to the
maintenance of trust between professional and service-user.
The obligation to maintain confidentiality does not normally end with
the individual's death. Confidentiality is owed equally to mature and
immature minors, and adults who lack the capacity to make
decisions for themselves. It also applies to fellow professionals and
students studying to enter one's profession. It applies to all forms of
transmission; verbal, written, digital, manual or hardcopy records,
video and illustrations etc. – wherever they can be identified with a
specific individual.
3. UCLA Issues:
UCLA Medical Staff pried into and viewed
celebrity patient medical records
Employees Access was outside of their job
responsibilities
Knowingly accessed records to get
information
Supervisor's password was compromised
4. Training on Confidentiality
Medical staff members should be trained annually
on Confidentiality; especially for those who have
access to personal information
Training on HIPAA Rules and Regulations
Staff member should know that there can be
serious ramifications for violating a patient’s
privacy
Medical staff members who have access to
personal information should be required to attend
the annually training.
Provide employee handbooks that address
Confidentiality & should sign a copy for their
personnel file.
At end of training, employees should have an
understanding of Confidentiality, and signed the
Confidentiality Agreements
5. Guidelines
Employees may not order, view, or copy anyone's
chart or other patient information, except as
required by their job responsibilities and
according to the Medical Information Department
guidelines.
In certain limited circumstances, it may be
necessary and appropriate to verify a patient's
appointment time and date, without going into
the patient's medical records. This should be
discussed with the supervisor in each area to be
sure everyone is aware of how to do this without
violating Confidentiality Guidelines.
6. Lessons Learned
Importance of detailed confidentiality
policy
Annual Review of Policy
Annual Employee sign-offs on
Confidentiality Agreements
Training and Training Records
Review Employee Access Roles to Limit
their Access based on Job Responsibilities
Adhering to your Disciplinary Policies
Organizations are vulnerable. How do we
monitor our employees' actions?
7. References
120 UCLA Hospital Staff Saw Celebrity Health Records. Retrieved
April 5th, 2012. from
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398784,00.html#ixzz1rAiP58R8
Patient Confidentiality. Retrieved April 5th, 2012 from:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/legal-
topics/patient-physician-relationship-topics/patient-
confidentiality.page
