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...
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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.
... 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
...explains and clarifies key provisions of the medical privacy regulation, this is a reliable source of information which was published last December (HIPAA, 1996). Guaranteeing the accuracy, security and protecting the privacy of all medical information is crucial and an ongoing challenge for many organizations.
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.
The estimated $20 billion medical transcription industry[1] turns a doctor’s audio notes into an electronic record. These notes could contain diagnosis, x-ray analysis or a myriad of information essential for communication between healthcare providers[2]. It could also contain sensitive information such as whether a patient has cancer, a sexually transmitted disease, or some other information that the patient would like to keep private.
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.
Every patient's medical records are different some contain more information due to their medical history. If a patient has alot of problems and have been treated then their file would have more information . Certain records also contain history of complaints and procedure, few records have photographs with a short summary of what is present. Medical records can be electronically stored , traditioanlly handwritten and even voice recorded. Medical records that are written on paper and kepted in folders are divivided into informative sections It contains medical terminology terms that any person in the medical field can read It should be written in either black or blue ink. Each provider should always document the evaluation and results of every visit during the visit. It is prohibited to pre-date or backdate an entry. If there is to be a mistake written in a wrong patients file it should be dated and signed by the person that is revising the file; this shows proof that it was corrected..
In the modern era, the use of computer technology is very important. Back in the day people only used handwriting on the pieces of paper to save all documents, either in general documents or medical records. Now this medical field is using a computer to kept all medical records or other personnel info. Patient's records may be maintained on databases, so that quick searches can be made. But, even if the computer is very important, the facility must remain always in control all the information they store in a computer. This is because to avoid individuals who do not have a right to the patient's information.
...). Privacy and Health Information Technology. Journal of Law Medicine, 37(2), 121-149. Retrieved January 28, 2011 from CINAHL database
Normally it becomes difficult for medical records to be completely sealed up. The greatest factor that affects confidentiality is when clinicians turn to share medical information as case studies. In any case such data happens to be published in professional journals, then the patient’s identity is never divulged and the entire data that identifies the patient become either eliminated or changed. However, if at all the confidentiality is breached, the patient may have the right of suing, British Medical Association (2008).
Torrey, T. (2009, February 19). Limitations of electronic patient record keeping: Privacy and security issues. Retrieved June 29, 2011, from http://patients.about.com/od/electronicpatientrecords/a/privacysecurity.htm
Each time a patient visits a doctor, is admitted to a hospital, goes to a pharmacist, or sends a claim to a health plan, a record is made of the confidential health information. The use of this information is protected and pieced together by state laws, which leave gaps in the protection of patient's privacy and confidentiality. Together all of the programs mentioned are developing strategies to better protect patient records. AHIMA members foresee daily conflicts and challenges dealing with patient confidentiality and access to their records. The resolution of these issues combined will one day result in a comprehensive national standard that will enhance individual privacy, foster research and protect the public health.
Privacy and confidentiality are essential rights of the public society. Shielding those rights, with respect to an individual’s personal health information, is the nurses ethical and legal obligation as health care providers. As new demands of advanced technology use in health are is increasing, it is very significant for nurses to maintain the privacy and confidentially as the professional connection of their patients and colleagues are dependent on it (Gorea RK, Gorea A, Gorea A, 2016)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA), Confidential Information and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA), and the Freedom of Information Act all provide legal protection under many laws. It also involves ethical protection. The patient must be able to completely trust the healthcare provider by having confidence that their information is kept safe and not disclosed without their consent. Disclosing any information to the public could be humiliating for them. Patient information that is protected includes all medical and personal information related to their medical records, medical treatments, payment records, date of birth, gender, and
Individual privacy and confidentiality play a role in both research and clinical health care settings. In each instance, standards and expectations put in place by researchers and health care practitioners to follow to protect patients and research participants while interacting with them. The evolving health care system and convergence of research and treatment protocols to create learning health care systems (LHCS) are creating the need to look at patient confidentiality and privacy differently to protect them and their information.
...This is necessary to help record a medical workers to work more effectively and efficiently for better service and also to improved results management and patient care with a reduction in errors within your medical practice.