The Medical Transcriptionist and Medical Record Privacy

1238 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of confidentiality in healthcare

In today’s age of electronics and gadgets it is harder than ever to keep medical records private especially when you work from home. It is very important that medical transcriptionists take care of the information they work with as top secret, and guard it from anyone not permitted to have this information. We cannot talk about our day at work like most people, we cannot even share amusing stories at a dinner party or at girls night out! As a medical transcriptionist, it is very important that we keep a high level of ethics for both professional and legal reasons. We are dealing with extremely personal information which cannot be shared with anyone around us. These ethics relate not only to how we speak to others about our work, but how we obtain, keep and send out information.

A medical transcriptionist is a skilled typist, excellent at interpreting what they read or hear, and a good grammarian. They also have to have strong familiarity with medical language and terms. Further, medical transcriptionists must be able to take what they hear and edit it, transform it, or make it logical without changing relevant details or medical information. (Ellis-Christensen 2010).

We as medical transcriptionist’s deal with jobs that involve a lot of private information involving a large number of patients and a number of medical personnel on a daily basis. Each day we hold many patients whole medical history in our hands and their privacy depends on us. We as MT’s help make sure the patient gets the best medical care possible. It is our duty to make clear any unclear term or unknown medical finding before transcribing it. (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2009). This can be done by researching through medical libraries, internet researches, disc...

... middle of paper ...

...fornian-sentenced-to-prison-for-hipaa-violation/.

Ellis-Christensen, Tricia. (2010) What Does a Medical Transcriptionist Do? Retrieved January 22, 2011 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-medical-transcriptionist-do.htm.

Edwards, Amy. (2006). Medical Ethics - Ethical Considerations for Medical Transcriptionists. Retrieved January 22, 2011 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/82804/medical_ethics_ethical_considerations.html?cat=31

Krauss, Adam D. (2010). Pathologists sue ex-WDH employee fired over privacy breach. Foster’s Daily Democrat. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved January 23, 2011 from http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100311/GJNEWS_01/703119601.

Torrey, Trisha. (2009). Medical Records, Privacy, Accuracy and Patients' Rights. Retrieved January 23, 2011 from http://patients.about.com/od/yourmedicalrecords/a/medrecordshub.htm.

Show More
Related

  • HIPAA: Privacy and Security Rules The Computer, the Nurse and You

    1452 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...). Privacy and Health Information Technology. Journal of Law Medicine, 37(2), 121-149. Retrieved January 28, 2011 from CINAHL database

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

    1894 Words  | 4 Pages

    Overall these sources proved to provide a great deal of information to this nurse. All sources pertained to HIPAA standards and regulations. This nurse sought out an article from when HIPAA was first passed to evaluate the timeline prospectively. While addressing the implications of patient privacy, these articles relate many current situations nurses and physicians encounter daily. These resources also discussed possible violations and methods to prevent by using an informaticist and information technology.

    Read More

  • Summary of HIPAA

    1815 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... Health Information Privacy For Consumers. Retrieved April 22, 2009, from U. S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html

    Read More

  • How to Become a Zoologist

    2030 Words  | 5 Pages

    "Zoologist Salary - How Much Does Zoologists Make?" The Richest We Follow Money The Extraordinary Zoologist Salary How Much Does Zoologists Make Comments. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • Electronic Medical Files: A Threat to Privacy?

    1872 Words  | 4 Pages

    Abstract:  Electronic medical databases and the ability to store medical files in them have made our lives easier in many ways and riskier in others.  The main risk they pose is the safety of our personal data if put on an insecure an insecure medium.  What if someone gets their hands on your information and uses it in ways you don't approve of? Can you stop them?  To keep your information safe and to preserve faith in this invaluable technology, the issue of access must be addressed.  Guidelines are needed to establish who has access and how they may get it.  This is necessary for the security of the information a, to preserve privacy, and to maintain existing benefits.

    Read More

  • Hipaa Privacy Rule

    1950 Words  | 4 Pages

    Today, you have more reason than ever to care about the privacy of your medical information. This information was once stored in locked file cabinets and on dusty shelves in the medical records department.

    Read More

  • Confidentiality of Health Information

    1649 Words  | 4 Pages

    6. Should individuals and organizations with access to the databases be identified to the patient

    Read More

  • Director Of Medical Records Coder

    1590 Words  | 4 Pages

    Medical billing and coding. (2011). In What is medical billing and coding? Retrieved from Medical billing and coding: http://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/

    Read More

  • Genetic Information vs Privacy

    699 Words  | 2 Pages

    Doctors, hospitals and other care providers dispute that they should have access to the medical records and other health information of any patient citing that they need this information to provide the best possible treatment for proper planning. Insurers on the other hand claim they must have personal health information in order to properly process claims and pay for the care. They also insist that this will provide protection against fraud. Government authorities make the same arguments saying that in providing taxpayer-funded coverage to its citizens, it has the right to know what it is paying for and to protect against fraud and abuse. Researchers both medical and none nonmedical have the same argument saying that they need access to these information so as to improve the quality of care, conduct studies that will make healthcare more effective and produce new products and therapies (Easthope 2005).

    Read More

  • Confidentiality And Patient Privacy

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    The debate is still going on today about what can and cannot be done legitimately with patients health information. There are worries about who should be able to access the patient’s information and for what reasons do they have to be accessing the patient’s health information. While on the other side there is an increasing need for performance assessments, efficient health guard, and a proficient administration for more and better information. Health care services are now starting to realize that they have a lot of work to do to be in compliance with the current health laws on the state and federal level guidelines when it comes to dealing with protecting patient data.

    Read More

  • HIMA Code Of Ethics Case Study

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    My job is to also ensure that the patient is aware of our HIPAA policies and that we are dedicated to protecting their records from any hackers or someone calling on the phone hoping to get any information. Looking at it from a mom and a patient’s point of view, it makes me feel a little easier about entrusting mine and my child’s information with them. We must as people in the health care field respect our patients and their privacy, and the code of ethics holds us accountable for these things. Being a billing and coding specialist, we have to be sure to code exactly what the doctor did during the visit to the best of my ability. The code of ethics mean I am responsible for educating myself on new changes that may be coming with future coding manuals, because they do change often. Overall the code of ethics ensure that as long as the guidelines are followed we can do our jobs accurately and with the proper

    Read More

  • HIPPA and the Privacy of Medical Records

    1335 Words  | 3 Pages

    The guidance explains and clarifies key provisions of the medical privacy regulation, which was published last December (HIPAA, 1996). Guaranteeing the accuracy, security, and protection of the privacy of all medical information is crucial and an ongoing challenge for many organizations. References American Medical Association (2005). Retrieved December 7, 2008, from http://www.ad http://www.ama-assn.org/.

    Read More

  • Moral and Ethical Issues of Euthanasia

    1525 Words  | 4 Pages

    McGee, Glenn and Arthur L. Caplan. "Medical Ethics." Microsoft® Encarta® 98 Encyclopedia. © 1993-1997: Microsoft Corporation. CD-ROM.

    Read More

  • Nursing Code of Ethics

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    Garrett, T. M., Baillie, H. W., & Garrett, R. M. (2010). Health care ethics: Principles and problems (5thed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Read More

  • My Career Dream Of Purpose To Becoming A Pediatrician

    2099 Words  | 5 Pages

    University of Maryland Medical Center. (2013, December 18). What is a Pediatrician?. Retrieved September 12, 2014, from http://umm.edu/programs/childrens/health/about/what-is-a-pediatrician

    Read More

More about The Medical Transcriptionist and Medical Record Privacy

Open Document