Patient confidentiality and protecting private health information is required by law. The document outlines expectations for employees including only accessing records needed for their role, not discussing records with unauthorized individuals, obtaining proper authorization before sharing information, and reporting unethical behaviors. Effectiveness of training requires a confidentiality agreement be signed by all staff and management expects full compliance to ensure patient privacy and comfort.

1. Patient Confidentiality
and
YOU

2. How Patient Confidentiality affects You,
The Employee
This brief yet informative training program will assist
you and your coworkers at all levels to avoid being reprimanded,
demoted, fined, sued or terminated when it comes to patient privacy.
Care should be taken to protect not only our patients, but this facility,
our vendors and all other allied service providers.

3. HIPPA REQUIREMENTS
Read and retain the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act) requirements, which protect the privacy, security and confidentiality of
medical records of our patients while permitting disclosure of personal
health/medical information for patient care, as necessary.
A copy of the Act will be provided to each employee to assure that
regulations are followed, with monitoring.
Posting of these regulations are to be reviewed on a regular basis.

4. Employee Expectations
Access only the records that you need and for only that reason.
Do not discuss records with anyone who has no reason to know.
Obtain and confirm authorizations before sharing information.
Report any unethical behavior regarding patient records and privacy.

5. Responsibilities to and of Patients
Share with patients the importance protecting their own information
Reiterate to our patients to keep track of identification cards
Remind them to review all prescriptions
Carefully read all documents requiring a signature
Review their patient records on a regular basis
Report any concerns to us or his or her insurance carrier.

6. Program Effectiveness
Effectiveness of this program requires review of its highlights
Confidentiality of this program will be kept private.
All staff will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement indicating their participation.
Signing this documentation will also confirm that the program is understood
Breach of confidentiality will likely in suspension or termination.
Management of this facility expects a 100% compliance rate.

7. Conclusion
The privacy of our patients is very important, and we want them to feel
comfortable
at all times that their medical and personal information will remain
confidential from the time they enter our doors until they leave,
and beyond.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Brenda Yvette Davis, Risk Management Director
References:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2013), http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/index.html
Wolper, L.F. (2011). Health care administration: Managing organized delivery systems (5th ed.). Boston: Jones and Bartlett