Confidentiality of Health Information

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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. Below are some of general question: 1. Should corrections be date and time stamped? 2. When should the patient be advised of the existence of computerized databases containing medical information about the patient? 3. When should the patient be notified of the purging of archaic or inaccurate information? 4. When should the computerized medical database be online to the computer terminal? 5. When the computer service bureau destroys or erases records, should the erasure be verified by the bureau to the physician? 6. Should individuals and organizations with access to the databases be identified to the patient 7. Does the AMA ethics opinion mention encryption as a technique for security? 8. What does the ethics opinion say about disclosure by recipients of authorized data to third parties? Errors caused by system problems can be prevented by working with your vendor to reset user preferences as needed. In order to preserve data quality and protect patient safety, it is very important that all medical records contain correct information for the safety and treatment of the patient. It is very important to note any cha... ... middle of paper ... ...E. (2003, January 27). Organizational ethics and hipaa . Retrieved from http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/pf_article_detail.asp?article_id=405#totop Encryption. (2011, April 3). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encryption U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (2003). Summary of the hipaa privacy rule Washington, DC: Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/privacysummary.pdf Patient confidentiality . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/legal-topics/patient-physician-relationship-topics/patient-confidentiality.page U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Information Privacy. (n.d.). Is the use of encryption mandatory in the security rule? Washington, DC: Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/faq/securityrule/2001.html

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