2. What is HIPAA?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
This federal law outlines guidelines for what information about people is
considered confidential
It also identifies information that is considered public knowledge and can
be shared without a patient’s explicit consent
3. Why is HIPAA important?
The majority of healthcare personnel are exposed to some form of
confidential patient information.
It is important to know what information is okay to share and what is not.
Violating a patient’s privacy is unlawful and has serious legal
consequences.
Violations not only affect the patient and person who sees or shares
confidential information, but the organization sees consequences as well.
4. Does this apply to me?
HIPAA applies to everyone who deals with confidential information in any
form.
Housekeepers may see computer screens or paperwork containing private
information.
Food service personnel see people walk through the hospital. It is unlawful
for them to go home and tell people who they saw at work that day.
Doctors, nurses, IT, and other people who deal directly with patient
information especially must be careful about what information they see
and share with others.
