Nursing, similar to many different fields, has changed significantly with the coming of the web. Data is readily available. From the hub of computers at the nurse’s station, the physician’s touch-screen tablet at the consultation, to advanced mobile phones all over the place, medical professionals require never more than a couple of keystrokes from their patients and associates.
With the advent of the internet, protocols are in place to protect the privacy of the patients. At my home care agency, email is often used, accounting for 60% of interoffice communication as well as communication with field staff. The field clinicians are provided with cellular phones as well as tablets and instantly receive case conference messages through their email. This is easily accessible through these devices. Our agency’s protocol for email communication complies with HIPAA regulations, “[facility] requires the placement of safeguards, both physical and electronic, to ensure the secure passage, maintenance and reception of protected health information …show more content…
2008.) Furthermore, the article goes on to conclude that the findings resulted in only a few of the 50 states utilizing reliable and specific guidelines to outline the different arrangements of the policy as well as the consequences to not adhering to such policies. The article suggests that a straightforward explanation such as "workers are in charge of their email account and its substance" might go far toward making employees mindful of the potential for unintentional abuse of email, and also would “make the consequences even more apparent.” (Ahmed, Shamima.
With the advent of the internet, protocols are in place to protect the privacy of the patients. At my home care agency, email is often used, accounting for 60% of interoffice communication as well as communication with field staff. The field clinicians are provided with cellular phones as well as tablets and instantly receive case conference messages through their email. This is easily accessible through these devices. Our agency’s protocol for email communication complies with HIPAA regulations, “[facility] requires the placement of safeguards, both physical and electronic, to ensure the secure passage, maintenance and reception of protected health information …show more content…
2008.) Furthermore, the article goes on to conclude that the findings resulted in only a few of the 50 states utilizing reliable and specific guidelines to outline the different arrangements of the policy as well as the consequences to not adhering to such policies. The article suggests that a straightforward explanation such as "workers are in charge of their email account and its substance" might go far toward making employees mindful of the potential for unintentional abuse of email, and also would “make the consequences even more apparent.” (Ahmed, Shamima.