This document discusses patient confidentiality and privacy regulations. It states that a physician cannot disclose a patient's private health information without consent, except by court order. Patient consent for release of information must be clearly documented. Strict privacy laws protect individually identifiable health information, including medical history, treatment, and payments. To comply with these laws, healthcare organizations will enhance security controls through employee monitoring, security experts, and file access monitoring. Violations of patient privacy can damage trust in the physician-patient relationship and result in lawsuits or disciplinary action.
3. “A breach of confidentiality is a
disclosure to a third party, without
patient consent or court order, of private
information that the physician has
learned within the patient-physician
relationship. Disclosure can be oral or
written, by telephone or fax, or
electronically, for example, via e-mail or
health information networks” (“Patient
confidentiality”, 2012)
4. Patient consent is needed before their
medical information can be released.
It is important that the patient’s consent
be clearly documented, because this
reduces the risk of violation.
5. Individually identifiable health information is
especially protected
This includes the following:
“the individual’s past, present or future
physical or mental health or
condition,
the provision of health care to the
individual, or
the past, present, or future payment for the
provision of health care to the
Individual” (“Summary of the”, 2012)
6. Enforcement of security policies will be
stricter, and patient files accessed will be
monitored and observed.
Enhanced security controls
Employee monitoring
Implementation of Security Experts
7. The patient has the right to not have
their privacy invaded
It is the patient’s choice to decide what
information will be released
A patient may need to make a decision
about releasing information based on
treatment
Violations can lead to mistrust, lawsuits,
and disciplinary action.
8. Patient confidentiality. (2012). Retrieved
from http://www.ama-
assn.org/ama/pub/physician-
resources/legal-topics/patient-physician-
relationship-topics/patient-
confidentiality.page
Summary of the hipaa privacy rule.
(2003, May). Retrieved from
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/un
derstanding/summary/privacysummary.pdf