This document discusses the importance of patient privacy in healthcare organizations. It notes that the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees privacy rights, and HIPAA in 1996 established national standards for handling electronic health information. Breaches of patient privacy can result in fines and job termination. The document outlines steps the healthcare organization will take to enhance privacy, including training, unit-level working groups, and a hospital-wide patient privacy committee.

1. CONFIDENTIALITY: IT’S A PRIVACY
THING
Amanda Miller, RN, BSN

2. We are here today to discuss Patient Privacy:
Patient Privacy – is central to ALL healthcare organization.
“The 4th Amendment to the US Constitution basically
guarantees American residents fundamental rights to their
freedom and privacy of information” (Wolper, 2011, p. 391).
In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPPA), Public Law 104-191.52HIPPA
required HHS to establish – with far reaching implications and
consequences – new guidelines, key principles, and national
standards for the handling of electronic healthcare
transactions, applicable to everyone working within the US
healthcare system” (Wolper, 2011, p. 391).

3. Why Should We Care?
Our mission:
To provide outstanding high quality care to our patients and to
make our hospital the premier healthcare organization.
Providing Outstanding high quality care includes placing high
importance on patient privacy.
•Our patients come to us because they trust us, we
must honor that trust that has been placed in us.
•Patients are vulnerable and sick when they come to us,
we must protect them at this time.

4. Why Should We Care?
•There can be severe consequences if it is found that there has been
a breach of patient confidentiality.
•This privacy expectation will not go away with healthcare
reform. This is an ongoing issue that must be worked though:
•“Doctors and hospitals and hospitals could face dramatic
changes in the way they handle affirmative action rules,
PATIENT PRIVACY guidelines, and managed care
contracts” (Lee-Davis, 2011, paragraph 1).
•There can be fines to the individual, the hospital,
and an employee could be terminated if he/she
engages in any activity that compromises patient
confidentiality.

5. Bottom Line:
It has been brought to our attention that there have been
breaches in patient privacy and the security of our records.
 This WILL NOT be tolerated, and any employee
who is found to engage in any behavior that is not in-
line with the hospital’s mission may be terminated.
All employees are encouraged to come forward with
any concerns about patient privacy. If you see
something, please know that you may come forward to
voice your concerns without fear of repercussions.

6. The Way Ahead
Watch this training presentation.
Participate in unit based training which will be lead by
each manager or nurse educator. This training will include
training on the new security system that will be utilized on
the electron health records.
Each unit will have a working group that will focus on
Patient Privacy/HIPPA concerns on the unit, and
brainstorm how they can be addressed.
In addition each unit will have a representative/champion
who will be on the hospital wide committee for patient
privacy.
This committee will meet once a month to discuss
any ongoing concerns and steps that have been
implemented on the unit to enhance patient privacy.

7. References
Lee-Davis, K., (Nov, 2011). Doctors, hospitals in Okla, could face
sweeping legal changes from reform. Journal Record.
Retrieved May 1, 2012, from ProQuest Central. (Document
ID: 2506919351).
Wolper, L.F., (2011). Health Care Administration: Managing Organized
Delivery Systems. (5th Ed.). Boston, Ma: Jones and Bartlett
Publishers. ISBN: 978-0-7637-5791-5).