ipl-logo

Ethical And Security Issues Of HIT

894 Words4 Pages

Ethical and Security Issues of HIT
The excitement of health information technology (HIT) has given freedom to the public to have access to health care records and has created a problem with ethical and security issues. For the most part, access to personal health information (PHI) is available to anyone who requests it. The problem health care organizations face is the ability for individuals to duplicate and transmit their information to unauthorized persons. More and more people are signing to have access to personal health records (PHR) without any standards to protect sensitive data (Brown 2009). The health care facility has the responsibility to protect the information that individuals are supposed to have and ensure it meets the entire …show more content…

Most importantly, nurses need to follow the standards and requirement of their organization when working with computers. Even though the availability of the EHR has made it easier for health care professionals to access health information, it has created a challenge to the health industry to protect health information from hackers. It is important that nurses are aware of the new electronic technology and learn how to manage and use the processes although nurses are known to resist change (Chand 2014). It is very important to maintain hospital standards before the release of any health information; health care professionals should use proper techniques that will safeguard patient information and protect it from inappropriate uses (Brown 2009). Nurses should monitor their surroundings when documenting information and opening files that contain information about the patient. The ability to have access to patient’s information has made it easier for the health care industry to interact with the patient, however; if everyone has access to their records it makes it difficult for health care professionals to protect vital information. As explained by Brown, 2009, one of the HIPAA standards makes it possible for individuals to have access to their health information online. This can give …show more content…

Most companies use personal digital assistants like laptops and iPads for collecting patient’s data (McGonigle &Mastrian 2015). This can become an ethical concern for some patients who may not understand how information moves through the electronic system and may think that nurses are using their personal devices to collect their private information. Some nurse may not be familiar with the operating system, as a result, misplace information to wrong areas of the chart. For example at my work place, we have a new device called MC40 (a cell phone that does many functions for the nurses). This device also has the ability to take pictures of skin issues and place them in the chart. However, sometimes it can be a problem as in this situation where a patient’s wound was posted as their profile picture. This took a while for IT to be contacted and

Show More
Related
421 Words | 2 Pages

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets security standards for safeguarding important patient health information that is being stored and maintained in analog and digital forms. As new technologies continue to facilitate the healthcare industry’s transition to paperless processes, health care providers, insurance companies, and other institutions are also growing increasingly dependent on electronic information systems to manage their HIPAA compliance programs. As a result, the safety and security of sensitive health data has become a major concern across the board. Security Risks and Challenges Today, health care professionals are using technology extensively in almost every aspect of the practice.

Read More
254 Words | 2 Pages

The Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA) of 1996 provides security provisions and data privacy for protecting a patient’s medical information. HIPAA has guidelines to ensure that a patient’s confidentiality is maintained while allowing the communication of a patient’s medical records between certain bodies or people or officials. Officials that a patient’s medical records can be shared with are other health care providers, health plans, business associates, and health care clearinghouses. HIPAA protects all “ individually identifiable health information”. There is a specific protocol to follow when sharing a patient’s medical information.

Read More
797 Words | 4 Pages

With the use of EHR comes the opportunity for patients to receive improved coordinated care from medical professions and easier access to their health data. The author identifies views about the problems of EHR and the legislation. Health care professionals understand and accept the obligations under the Privacy and Security, patient’s information can still be at breached if those involved in patient health do not make sure that their information is secured. There is an increased risk of privacy violations with EHR if used improperly. Even though there are legislations in place to protect patient’s information, data still can be easily accessed either intentionally or accidental by using improper security measures.

Read More
1406 Words | 6 Pages

There will be patients that dislike the EHR and prefer the old fashion paper system as they believe that to be a safest way to store information. Ethical and social implications of Electronic Health records are not limited to, hacking, provider ’s neglect of loosing laptops with patient confidential information, leaving other patient records up while a different patient is in the room. Insufficient training for staff as many staff may not be properly trained in implementing HIPPA which compromises patient’s privacy. Over worked staff may input wrong information in the EHR such as inaccurate spelling and recording of patients’ name and current medication history.

Read More
1107 Words | 5 Pages

It was noted that both New York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia Medical Center violated the electronic protection of health information for about 7,000 people. The health information was found on the popular search engine Google. The electronic data was made available after an unsuccessful deactivation of a server hosting the sensitive information. HIPAA proves to be helpful in the health industry because fines and fees this hefty make healthcare providers, small practices, insurance companies, consulting firms, and third party administrators cautious of mindless behavior resulting in individual’s identity and personal health information in the hands of the public without consent.

Read More
986 Words | 4 Pages

It is important to note that how protective health information is used, will be part of the ethical decision-making process that nurses struggle with from day to day. Cautioning patients about use of the internet is another aspect of the ethic-decision making process of nurses. People need educating and nurses are the primary instructors that lead in the health care system, even if it means partnering with the

Read More
1248 Words | 5 Pages

HIPAA’s existence constituted as a necessary health care reform. This particular healthcare reform empowered patients by giving them more control and say over the handling of medical records. The HIPAA law also reshaped how health care providers handled patients’ medical records, especially concerning patient privacy (IHS, n.d.). Under the HIPAA law, the privacy rule includes the “national standards” that health care organizations must

Read More
503 Words | 3 Pages

ISSUE The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has continued to evolve. The latest rules concerning the patients rights to control protected health information (PHI) is problematic for the health system, may place the organization at risk, and compromise patient care. BACKGROUND

Read More
807 Words | 4 Pages

Group 3 Case Study 1 Throughout the foundation of healthcare, the relationship of doctor-patient created a realm where private patient information was protected. It was outlined in the Hippocratic Oath, and then evolved into the common law tort system, which was weighed on a case-by-case basis, and prevailed for the ‘good’ of the public (Tyson, 2001, n.p.). As healthcare has progressed, especially with the changes in technology and its growth patient privacy, confidentiality and personal information has been difficult to safeguard. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), on the other hand, takes-on a regulation style approach, incorporating public policy and regulations (Kaplan, 2014, p. 36). As an organization, Kaiser Permanente and other institutions must make changes to avoid this type of event from occurring.

Read More
646 Words | 3 Pages

The disclosure of patients’ health information affects them in many ways. Financially, when criminals obtain protected patient information, they can use it for insurance fraud, which affects insurance companies and the patients as well ; from a social and psychological perspective, patients feel embarrassed and can be blackmailed when their health information is exposed . Data breaches also affect covered entities’ finances and reputation. The HIPAA enforcement rule penalizes any HIPAA violation [12], but the hearing process that follows a HIPAA violation complaint is very expensive, and covered entities must pay for lawyers and other professionals during this legal process. The notification rule mandates that covered entities notify the OCR and patients affected by any data breach.

Read More
552 Words | 3 Pages

The HIPAA Privacy Rule gives patients more control over their health information by setting boundaries on the use and release of health records. This law is essential because the privacy rule sets limits and conditions on how

Read More
1428 Words | 6 Pages

Introduction HIPAA is the Federal Health Insurance Probability and Accountability Act of 1996. The primary goal of the law is to make it easier for people to keep health insurance, protect the confidentiality and the security of healthcare information and help the healthcare industry control administrative costs [1]. As an advocate for the patient, it is the nurses responsibility to maintain the patients privacy, confidentiality and security while providing care. Although can be very difficult in different circumstances, the nurse must maintain that standard of care where the patients fidelity is not compromised.

Read More
1435 Words | 6 Pages

What is most important is that nurses and other healthcare professionals hold each other to the highest standard in maintaining patient’s privacy and their protected health information. As future nurses, we must act in professional and ethical manners at all times and keep our patients and our own best interests in mind. If an individual ever has to question whether something is appropriate or ethical, there is a chance that it is not and they should contact a supervisor for advice. One small lapse in judgement could lead to serious repercussions including losing a nursing license. However, not all social media use is bad and some may be beneficial in the workplace.

Read More
436 Words | 2 Pages

These professionals, such as myself, must abide by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) regulations while on and off duty. Meaning, we, as healthcare professionals, are not permitted to speak of or post information that could potentially identify a patient (Shay, 2012). In fact, social media usage can pose as a threat of improper disclosure of patient’s protected information (Shay, 2012).

Read More
857 Words | 4 Pages

Healthcare is becoming more dependent on technology. From advancements in hardware that help to save lives and cure disease, to software that allows for the transferring and storage of private patient data. Healthcare systems also rely on technology to control costs and ensure an optimal patient experience. The drawback to these innovations is that hospitals have seen a marked increase in the use of electronic information and a resulting increase in the level of exposure to cyberattacks, which target an organization's use of cyberspace to steal information or disrupt, disable, or destroy related information resources. These cyber threats have made most of healthcare's trusted technology less reliable and there is a race to find solutions.

Read More

More about Ethical And Security Issues Of HIT

Related Topics

Open Document