2. WELCOME
As health care workers we must provide quality care while
ensuring that our patients personal health information is
protected. This health care organization is committed to
protecting patient privacy and confidentiality. In order to
comply with the privacy laws, it is mandatory for all employees
to complete this training program every month. At the end of
the training there will be a quiz and acknowledgement form to
complete.
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3. What is HIPPA?
Guarantees insurability of employees that change jobs (Portability)
Reduces fraud and abuse of federal entitlement programs
(Accountability)
Improves efficiency through standardization of electronic
transactions and codes
Protects individual’s private health information
Establishes security standards for health care information systems
National standards for unique health identifiers
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4. Why is HIPPA important?
Protecting privacy is important!
We all want our PHI to be private
Our patients want their PHI to be private
It’s the right thing to do
It’s the law
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5. What is Confidential Information?
A person’s name, address, birth date, age, phone and fax
numbers, e-mail address
Medical records, diagnosis, x-rays, photos, prescriptions, lab
work, test results
Billing records, claim data, referral authorizations,
explanation of benefits
Research records
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6. UCLA Confidentiality Issues
California Department of Public Health,
reported that 120 employees viewed celebrity
medical information without permission
Employees obtained supervisors passwords to
gain information
Breach of confidentiality
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7. What can happen
Someone who does not protect a person’s
personal and/or health care privacy could:
Warning/Suspension
Lose his/her job
Pay fines $50,000 to $250,000 per incident
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8. How to protect personal information
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Never discuss patient information during work hours or at
outside of the facility
Always protect your password by not allowing anyone to use
it, log off computers or lock it
Routinely change passwords
Only access information you need
Don’t leave information on desk, faxes or in patient rooms
Use security screens when accessing information
9. Reporting Incidents
Notify your manager of any unusual or suspicious incident
Unauthorized use of a computer or password
Damage to computer
Any breaches to patients or employee records
Computer hacking
Remember, it is your job to report any incident immediately
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10. References:
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
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (n.d) Health
Information Privacy. Retrieved on February 23, 2014
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