MHA 690: Health Care Capstone

1. Confidentiality: A Patient’s Right to Privacy
Sophronia M. McClendon
MHA 690: Health Care Capstone
Instructor : Dr. David Cole
07-24-2014

2. The Importance of Health Information and Confidentiality Training
 How can this training be effective for the
employees to adhere to patient
confidentiality?
 The innovation and the improvement in
patient’s care and concern come at a price
increase in volume of information
 How can managers help avoid this type
of unethical behavior among their
employees?
 Unachukwu & Unachukwu, 2009
 What kind of training can
be put into place to protect
the patient and prevent
legal action against the
health care organization?
 Knowing state and federal
regulations and
governmental policies

3. Why is Confidentiality, Privacy and Compliance Critical
for Health Organizational Success
 Health care is among the most
personal services rendered in the
society.
 This care requires that scores of
personnel must have access to
intimate patient information
 In order to receive appropriate
care, patients must feel
comfortable in order to reveal
personal information
 Gaining the patient trust is most
important as a health care provider
 Health organizations must determine
the appropriateness of all requests for
patient information under applicable
federal and state law and act
accordingly to protect both the patient
and the organization
 The health care provider must treat
patient information confidential and
protect its security
 (Health information, 2010)

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

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

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

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

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