Free Essay on RUA: Informatics in Healthcare

The healthcare systems have been modified using technology in the organization of health records to improve service outcomes. In health informatics, resources, methods, and devices are assembled to enhance the acquisition of health records, ease retrieval, secure storage, and access to medical and healthcare information concerning patients and professionals. Essential tools in informatics are patient information, medical terminologies, computer technologies, and systems of communication. Enhanced information access is viable for doctors, nurses, patients, health information technicians, insurance companies, and hospital administrators. However, whenever this information is leaked to the public, it is considered as a breach of the HIPAA regulations and is punishable under the state law. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to understand the consequences of breaching the HIPAA regulations that expose patient information.

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HIPPA, Legal, and Regulatory Guidelines

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 states that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall develop rules and regulations that secure the confidentiality of certain health information (Cannon & Caldwell, 2016). As a result, HHS came up with the HIPAA Security Rule and the HIPAA Privacy Rule in fulfillment of the State requirements. The security Rule protects electronic health information, whereas the Privacy Rule was formed to protect individual health data of a patient.

In the statutory and regulatory background of the HIPAA, there are provisions for the administrative simplification by which the HHS Secretary publishes national standards protecting the electronic health information of patients, allows automatic transfer of information, and accords privacy and safety of the available data. The secretary was charged with the responsibility of elaborating on the published measures meant to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic patient health information. HHS released the first rule for commenting by the public in August 1998 (Cannon &Caldwell, 2016). With over 2350 comments, the HHSS eventually published the final rule in February 2003 (Cannon & Caldwell, 2016). The contents of the Security rules include physical, technical, and administrative safety measures and procedures to be followed in protecting patient rights.

In the security rule, several individuals are covered. For instance, all individuals under health insurance coverage plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and any other health personnel that engages in the electronic transfer of such information. The HIPAA rules also cover business associates under the HITECH Act of 2009 that elucidates their responsibilities (Cannon & Caldwell, 2016). As a result, four general rules include all the involved individuals in the HIPAA guidelines. First, the national health and humanity department has to ensure that all healthcare workforce conforms to the instructions without a possible breach. Second, all electronic patient health information (e-PHI) must be treated with confidentiality, integrity, and should be available when needed as soon as it is created, retrieved, stored or transferred from one professional to another (Cannon & Caldwell, 2016). Third, health professionals must mitigate the risk of disclosure of impermissible data. Lastly, all covered personnel must protect risks against security threats or circumstances that compromise the integrity of health information.

Scenario Ending and Recommendations

A controversial situation occurs whereby HIPAA rules are violated, and the information of a client is leaked to public media. It is considered a HIPAA violation for impermissible disclosure of protected health information. Any disclosure of this kind is unacceptable under the HIPAA and is viewed as a violation that attracts financial penalties. Such abuse may include disclosing protected health information (PHI) to a client's employer, careless handling of healthcare computers, careless handling of PHI, or leakage following the theft of healthcare laptops or computers (Saba &Mc Cormick, 2015). Other causes of impermissible violation may also include unnecessary disclosure of PHI by a slip of the tongue, failure to adhere to the minimum standard, and leaking patient information after the authorization period has elapsed.

Such a violation is charged differently in a court of law, depending on the state. For instance, The Memorial Hermann Health System settled a $2.4 million fine for disclosing patient information in a press conference (Cannon & Caldwell, 2016). Conversely, the New York-Presbyterian Hospital settled charges worth $2.4 million for unconsented filming of patients to appear in a TV show. In contrast, Brigham and Women’s hospital was charged $384,000 for the same charges (Cannnon &Caldwell, 2016). The Lukes Roosevelt Hospital entire was charged $387,000 for careless handling of PHI and unauthorized disclosure of patient HIV status to employers (Cannon & Caldwell, 2016).

One of the best ways that health facilities can prevent such financial penalties or violations from occurring is through early discoveries of the breach. The longer the period of information leakage, the higher the financial penalties. Thus, facilities can discover HIPAA violations through thorough and timely investigations into the data breaches by use os state OCR or the attorney general of the country (Saba & McCormick, 2015). Also, health facilities can lodge inquiries into complaints levied against HIPAA entities that include business associates and insurance companies. Necessarily, occasional HIPPAA compliance audits can be carried out often to mitigate the risk of violation and deal with existing threats.

Advantages and Disadvantages

One advantage of technology in healthcare is that it improves communication systems that eventually facilitate improved patient care. If a patient has a minor injury, it is possible to reach out to a nurse on the phone who guides them on what to do rather than meeting in person. Similarly, professionals can follow patient progress after discharge from a health facility to ensure they receive a full recovery (Koppel &Lehmann, 2015). The patient-health worker relationship is built through communication devices that make trust in the provided services. Another advantage of technology in healthcare offers better education to healthcare professionals. Learning materials on trending changes in healthcare are updated daily over the internet, and they help in improving competency skills. Better record-keeping is another advantage of technology that helps reduce the bulkiness of paperwork (Koppel & Lehmann, 2015). Records are available to authorize personal by just logging into facilities computers. There is an improved treatment in the face of technology with examples of electronic IV monitors, drug management technologies, hands-free communication devices, and portable defibrillators.

Nonetheless, technology may have its cons, which include the savvy nature of internet access, where some patients may not be conversant with technological devices (Koppel & Lehmann, 2015). Also, the technology relies heavily on power. Hence, in the case of a power outage, essential services and procedures come to a standstill. Electronic equipment may also malfunction, leading to the delay of some activities that compromise the health of a patient. Lastly, cybersecurity is the risk that many health facilities worry about. Patient information may be leaked to the public, causing financial penalties to a health facility.

Conclusion

Conclusively, the essence of information technology in healthcare is to enhance service provision to patients and simplify work for healthcare professionals. Health Insurance Protection Association Act of 1996 (HIPAA) gives guidelines concerning the importance of protecting patient information. Whereas technology is supposed to make information safer, there is a risk of insecurity. In such cases, disclosure of patient information to the public is termed as a breach that is punishable by the state law. Some of the advantages of technology include better education, improved communication, and better treatment. However, technology may be a problem whew n there is heavy reliance that causes hitches in times of failure.

References

Cannon, A. A., & Caldwell, H. (2016). HIPAA violations among nursing students: teachable moment or terminal mistake—a case study. J Nurs Educ Pract, 6(12), 41-48. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hollie_Caldwell/publication/305479324_HIPAA_violations_among_nursing_students_Teachable_moment_or_terminal_mistake-A_case_study/links/579787a108aec89db7b9a86b.pdf

Koppel, R., & Lehmann, C. U. (2015). Implications of an emerging EHR monoculture for hospitals and healthcare systems. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 22(2), 465-471. https://academic.oup.com/jamia/article-abstract/22/2/465/695841

Saba, V. K., & McCormick, K. A. (2015). Essentials of nursing informatics. http://mtshohoe.edu.gh/library/index.php?p=show_detail&id=800&keywords=ebook