Question

What is a breach of health information? How can it be prevented? Describe privacy protection measures that you would take to protect your patients’ health information.

Answer 1

HEALTH INFORMATION IS THE DATA RELATED TO A PERSONS MEDICAL HISTORY,INCLUDING SYMPTOMS ,DIAGNOSES, PROCEDURES, AND OUTCOMES.

TRADITIONAL MEDICAL INFORMATION VITAL TO PROVIDING QUALITY PATIENT CARE.

1...UNDER THE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ECONOMIC AND CLINICAL HEALTH ACT OF 2009 ,BREACHES INVOLVING THE ACQUISITION, ACCESS,USE, OR DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION AND THUS POSING A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS MUST BE REPORTED.

A PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION BREACH IS UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS,USE OR DISCLOSURE OF INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION THAT IS HELD OR TRANSMITTED BY A HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION OR ITS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES.

2.. IT CAN BE PREVENTED BY SEPARATE PATIENT INFORMATION

=CREATE DUAL WIRELESS NETWORKS IN FACILITIES SO THERE IS ONE PROTECTED NETWORK FOR PATIENT PRIVACY AND ANOTHER FOR THE PUBLIC AND OTHERS .

=PROVIDE ON-GOING EMPLOYEE TRAINING ;ALL EMPLOYEES SHOULD UNDERSTAND DATA SECURITY BEST PRACTICES IN THE WORKPLACE.

=CONDUCT A RISK ASSESSMENT

=PROVIDE CONTINUED HIPAA EDUCATION TO EMPLOYEES

=MONITOR DEVICES AND RECORDS

=ENCRYPT DATA AND HARDWARE

=SUBNET WIRELESS NETWORKS

=MANAGE IDENTITY AND ACCESS STRINGENTLY

=DEVELOP A STRICT BYOD POLICY

=EXAMINE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT CAREFULLY

=HOLD BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT SECURITY POLICIES

=ESTABLISH A GOOD LEGAL COUNSEL

3..PRIVACY PROTECTION IS KEEPING THE INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP TO YOURSELF FROM GETTING INTO THE HANDS OF COMPANIES,HACKERS,GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS,AND OTHER GROUPS .

THERE ARE VARITY OF REASONS FOR PLACING A HIGH VALUE ON PROTECTING THE PRIVACY ,CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY OF HEALTH INFORMATION. PRIVACY AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF HUMAN WELL BEING

ENSURING PRIVACY CAN PROMOTE MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PHYSICIAN AND PATIENT ,WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR QUALITY OF CARE ,ENHANCED AUTONOMY, AND PREVENTING ECONOMIC HARM,EMBRASSMENT, AND DISCRIMINATION.

HOW CAN SECURE PATIENT INFORMATION

1. A FIREWALL TO PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALSFROM ACCESSING THE NETWORK AND DATA.

2.A SPAM FILTER TO BLOCK MALICIOUS EMAILS AND MALWARE

3.AN ANTIVIRUS SOLUTION TO BLOCK AND DETECT MALWARE ON THE SYSTEM

4.A WEB FILTER TO PREVENT EMPLOYEES FROM ACCESSING MALICIOUS WEBSITES

HOW EMPLOYEES CAN PREVENT HIPAA VIOLATIONS

1. NEVER DISCLOSE PASSWORDS OR SHARE LOGIN CREDENTIALS

2.NEVER LEAVE PORTABLE DEVICES OR DOCUMENTS

3.DO NOT TEXT PATIENT INFORMATION

4.NEVER ACCESS PATIENT RECORDS OUT OF CURIOSITY

5.DONOT TAKE MEDICAL RECORDS WITH YOU WHEN YOU CHANGE JOB.