1. JADA NORRIS
MHA 690 HEALTH CARE CAPSTONE
PROFESSOR: HWANG-JI LU
SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
CONFIDENTIALITY

2. WHAT IS CONFIDENTIALITY?
Confidentiality /con·fi·den·ti·al·i·ty/ (kon″fĭ-den″she-al ĭ-te) the
principle in medical ethics that the information a patient reveals
to a health care provider is private and has limits on how and
when it can be disclosed to a third party. The ethical principle or
legal right that a physician or other health professional will hold
secret all information relating to a patient, unless the patient
gives consent permitting disclosure. (The Free Dictionary, 2013)

3. CONFIDENTIALITY & PRIVACY IN HEALTHCARE
Advances in technology, including computerized medical
databases and the Internet, have opened the door to potential,
unintentional breaches of private/confidential health
information. Protection of privacy/confidentiality is essential to
the trusting relationship between health care providers and
patients. Quality patient care requires the communication of
relevant information between health professionals and/or health
systems. Nurses and other health professionals who regularly
work with patients and their confidential medical records
should contribute to the development of standards, policies, and
laws that protect patient privacy and the confidentiality of
health records/information.

4. HOW CAN THIS TRAINING ON
CONFIDENTIALITY BE EFFECTIVE FOR
THE EMPLOYEES?
• Helps employees to be more mindful of patients confidentiality
& privacy
• Provides employees with the necessary skills to become better
employees
• Improves Quality of Care
• Keeps employees informed and up-dated
• Helps employees prevent violations and penalties
• Ensures patients that their information is safe

5. MANAGER’S OBLIGATIONS
As manager, I would use Slideshare as my Web 2.0 tool to train my staff;
As a requirement, each staff member will have training every three to six months or
annually as needed.
Carry-out organization’s vision and mission statements
Keep employees informed at all times
Make sure that employees are working and completing task efficiently and
effectively
To provide quality care to every patient
To enforce company policies and regulations

6. CONSEQUENCES AND REPERCUSSIONS
Upon hiring employees will read and sign company policies
pertaining to confidentiality and privacy laws. Any employee
that is caught viewing patients records without proper cause will
be disciplined. Discipline action may consist of a warning,
suspension and/or termination. Any violations of patient’s
confidentiality and privacy will not be tolerated.

7. CONTINUOUS TRAINING
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
(HIPAA). Mandatory HIPAA Training. All new and existing
employees are required to go through HIPAA training and
successfully pass the course. HIPAA required Health & Human
Services to establish new guidelines, key principles, and national
standards for the handling of electronic healthcare transactions,
applicable to everyone working within the US healthcare
system.

8. PENALTIES
Penalty for Non-compliance- For knowingly obtaining and
disclosure of identifiable information – up to $50,000 as well as 1
year imprisonment. False pretenses - $100,000 fine and up to 5
years in prison. With intent to sell - $250,000 and imprisonment
for up to 10 years.

9. CONCLUSION
Confidentiality is a crucial aspect in Healthcare. Patients
put their trust in the medical professionals everyday.
Patients want to know that they can trust the physicians
and staff that are caring for them. By providing and
maintaining confidentiality ensures patients that they are
receiving quality care. Confidentiality issues are a
standard of practice in healthcare.

10. REFERENCES
American Medical Association (2013) HIPAA Violations and
Enforcement http://www.ama- assn.org/ama/pub/physician-
resources/solutions- managing-your-practice/coding-billing-
insurance/hipaahealth-insurance-portability- accountability-
act/hipaa-violations-enforcement.page
The Free Dictionary (2013). Definition of Confidentiality.
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/confidentiality
Wolper, L.F. (2011). Health care administration: Managing
organized delivery systems (5th ed.). Boston: Jones and Bartlett