Health Informatics and Technology professional responsibility

1. Health Informatics and Technology:
Professional Responsibilities
An Online Self-Paced Learning Module for Nursing Students

2. Objectives:
 Describe the role and benefits of health informatics in the delivery of quality
patient-centered care.
 Discuss professional health care provider responsibilities for safeguarding
confidential client information, including HIPAA regulations.
 Explain possible consequences for breaches in privacy and confidentiality.
 Discuss professional responsibilities in the use of social health care technology or
media as it relates to relationships with patients, colleagues and employers.

3. Health Informatics
 Is the “use of information
and technology to
communicate, manage
knowledge, mitigate error,
and support decision
making.”
(QSEN, 2003)

4. Benefits of Healthcare Informatics….
 Healthcare informatics is seen
as a potential method for
improving the delivery of
quality health care by:
 Providing up-to-the-minute, real
time information about a patient’s
condition necessary for decision
making

5. Benefits of Healthcare Informatics….
 Minimizing errors with an
electronic health record (EHR)
that uses computerized
functions such as:
 Barcoding
 EHR Medication Reconciliation
 Computerized health care
provider order entry
 Patient care alerts/reminders

6. Benefits of Healthcare Informatics….
 Promoting “meaningful” use of
electronic health record (EHR)
technology to:
 Improve the quality of health care
thru the electronic exchange of
health information
 Provide and engage patients and
families via access to personal health
information via “portals”
 Improve care coordination
 Improve population and public health

7. Issues surrounding electronic health
records…
While the use of EHRs can greatly
enhance patient care decisions
and safety, the portability of
health information and sharing of
electronic data create potential
risks to privacy and
confidentiality.

8. Benefits of Healthcare informatics…
 Likewise, the use of social media
technology creates possible
opportunities for patient-
provider exchanges (thru texting,
email, or other venues) but raises
new concerns regarding
documentation and
confidentiality

9. Privacy & Confidentiality are not the
Same!
 PRIVACY: relates to the
patient’s right to dignity &
respect, and for personal info.
to be held private
 CONFIDENTIALITY: is
disclosure of information with
the patient’s consent for
health care purposes or when
legally required

10. Historically…
 Issues of confidentiality and
privacy in nursing are not
new…
 Florence Nightingale is
considered the founder of
modern day nursing…
npg.org.uk

11. Nightingale pledge
 Beginning in 1893, nurses citing
the Nightingale Pledge promised
to:
 “Hold in confidence all personal
matters committed to my keeping
and all family affairs coming to my
knowledge…”

12. EHR: Electronic health records
 Professionally, nurses
have an ethical and
legal obligation to
maintain patient
privacy and
confidentiality at all
times.

13. HIPAA
 With the advent of electronic
health data, Congress in 1996
enacted HIPAA which stands for
the:
 Health
 Insurance
 Portability and
 Accountability
 Act

14. HIPAA
 HIPAA in short, is a set of rules for hospitals and health care
providers to ensure that medical records, medical billing, and
patient accounts meet certain consistent standards for
handling, documentation, and privacy.

15. HIPAA: Privacy rule
 The HIPAA “Privacy Rule” was enacted in 2003 to establish
standards for the protection and disclosure of patient health
information, and specifically:
 Defines identifiable protected health information (PHI), including
patient identifiers like a person’s name, birthdate, picture, medical
diagnoses, address, social security number, etc.
 Stipulates how this information may be used, by whom, and under
what circumstances.

16. HIPPA: Privacy rule
 There are 18 patient identifiers. Google “18 patient identifiers” to see
the list of identifiers that must be protected.
 Be aware that health information by itself without the identifiers is not
considered to be protected health information (PHI).
 For example, a set of vital signs by itself is not protected. However, when
the vital signs are accompanied by a name or medical record number, then
it must be protected.

17. HIPAA
 To better understand HIPPA, watch the following you tube video by the
Nebraska Medical Center (by Art Witkowski). (Copy and paste the web
address below into your browser and hit return).
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Cw0ARJVDM

18. Consequences
 Health care providers are required
to adhere to HIPAA regulations as
well as abide by employer policies
which may be more strict…
 Failure to do so can result in a
reprimand, sanction, fine, or loss of
licensure by the government or state
board of nursing and/or loss of
employment by the employer
depending on the circumstances…

19. Know the Facts vs. Myths
 Following are common myths about HIPAA:
 HIPAA prohibits discussions of a patient’s condition over the phone with a
doctor or family member
 HIPAA prevents nurses and doctors from discussing a patient’s condition
or treatment in a semiprivate room with the curtain pulled
 HIPAA prohibits displaying patient care signs like “fall
risk” or diabetic diet” at the door of the hospital
room or bedside

20. Know facts vs. Myths
 Common myths (continued):
 HIPAA does not allow leaving messages for patients at their homes, on
an answering machine, or with a family member
 HIPAA prohibits leaving patients’ charts at the bedside or outside
patients’ rooms

21. Patient Authorization:
 Patient authorization for disclosure is not needed in
situations where:
 Laws require reporting of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
Example: child abuse
 Disclosure of information is needed to facilitate organ donation
Example: kidney donation

22. Patient Authorization:
 Patient authorization for disclosure is not needed in
situations where:
 Laws require reporting of information for preventing or
controlling illnesses, communicable diseases, injury, or
disability
Examples: HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases
 Disclosure may lessen a serious threat to a person or
the public
Example: Workplace violence

23. Technology Explosion:
 In addition to safeguarding information on the electronic
health record (EHR), professional responsibilities include
appropriate use of health care technology via social media

24. Know and Follow These Tips for Social
Media Use!
 Both the American Nurses’ Association (ANA) and the National
Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) have combined to
publish principles and tips for social networking.
 Additionally, know the Social Media Policy for your employer or
nursing program.

25. Principles and Tips:
 In general, principles and tips from the ANA and NCSBN
include:
1. Don’t share or post information or photos of patients
2. Maintain professional boundaries with patients
3. Do not post comments about employers, co-workers even if names
are omitted
4. Do not take photos or videos of patients on
cell phones or devices
5. Report breaches in confidentiality or privacy

26. Principles and Tips:
 Principles and tips (cont’d):
1. Be mindful that posted content you believe is private and accessible can
be disseminated to others
2. Be aware that content deleted from a site may still
be accessible or recoverable

27. Consequences….
 To learn more about professional responsibilities and the
possible consequences for breaches in privacy or
confidentiality…..
 Copy and paste the following link below into your browser and hit
return. Read the short article on “Social Media: Proceed with Caution”
 http://www.theamericannurse.org/index.php/2014/01/02/social-media-
proceed-with-caution/

28. Professional Boundaries: What You Should Know
 Additionally, be mindful of boundary violations with
patients!
 Contact with patients and former patients (via
electronic or cellular contacts) outside of work
settings blurs the distinction between professional
and personal relationships and should be avoided.

29. Additional Considerations: Professional
Relationships
 Negative online posts about co-workers (such as bullying or
intimidation) can constitute lateral violence, are inappropriate,
and can have professional consequences
 Likewise, online posts about employers or work conditions
has raised issues over freedom of speech versus libel or
defamation

30. Promoting a Professional Image:
 Lastly, be aware that others (including nursing
employers) may use social media to screen
potential applicants for hiring…
 While many states are enacting laws to prevent
employers from demanding access (i.e.
passwords) to personal social media accounts,
consider carefully what you post
and how it reflects on your professional image!

31. Social media
 Knowing the benefits
and risks of associated
with electronic health
records and internet
technology can help you
chart a course that
utilizes electronic
resources appropriately
and professionally!

32. references
 American Nurses Association (2011, September). Principles for social networking and the nurse. Silver
Spring, MD: Author.
 Coty, J., & Owns, I.T. (2016) Getting social media: What are the rules. Nursing Focus, 45,14,16.
 Duffy, M. (2011) Facebook, twitter, and linkedin, oh my! American Journal of Nursing, 111(4), 56-59.
 Duffy, M. (2011) Patient privacy and company policy in online life. American Journal of Nursing, 111(9),
65-69.
 Fraser, R. (2011). The nurse’s social media advantage. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.

33. references
 George, D.R. (2011). Friending facebook? A minicourse on the use of social media by health
professionals. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 31(3), 215-219.
 Jones, C. & Hayter, M. (2013). Social media use by nurses and midwives: a ‘recipe for disaster ‘
or a ‘force for good’? Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22(11/12), 1495-1496. doi: 10.1111/jocn.12239
 McWay, D.C., Smith, J.K. (2014). Status update: Social media exchanges are sometimes part of the
health record. Journal of the American Health Information Management Association, 85(3), 28-
32.
 National Council of State Boards of Nursing (2011, August). White Paper : A nurse’s guide to the use of
social media. Chicago, IL: Author.
 Quality and Safety Education for Nurses. (2003). Retrieved from: qsen.org

34. References
 Schmitt, T.L. (2012). Social media use in nursing education. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(3),
2-21.
 Skiba, D.J. (2011). The need for social media policies for schools of nursing. Nursing Education Perspectives,
32(2), 126-127.
 Spector, N. & Kappel, D.M. (2012). Guidelines for using electronic and social media: The regulatory perspective.
Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(3), 1-16.