HIPAA in the Nursing Field
Privacy is a term that applies to all people, it is a right entitled to everyone. In this modern world with smart phones and social media, it can be a challenge to recognize the boundary lines of privacy when taking care of critically ill patients. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was passed by Congress in 1996 to define the rules and regulations concerning multiple topics, one of which is called the Privacy Rule (Mcgowan pg. 61). This rule established national standards to protect patients’ personal health information and medical records. Since that time there has been advancements in technology and now there are things like electronic health records, electronic Pyxis, and online databases …show more content…
One example would be unattended computers left in the hallways while the nurse was still logged into the program and information was visible on the screen to any who might happen by. Along with open computer screens there were printouts of certain tests including but not limited to: ABG results, EKG rhythm strips, education material and what is known as a nurse’s “Brain” all of which had patient names, DOB, medical record numbers, etc. Another potential violation witnessed was the improper discarding of empty IV bags that still contained the patient’s information. The hospital policy regarding the disposal of such material includes that such labels are to be removed prior to disposal and those labels placed into a designated shredder bin located in numerous locations on the …show more content…
Both articles touch base on how to dispose of patient information properly with shredding bins. A unique concept in this article, are the examples of punishments that employees received for accidental and purposeful breeches of privacy. One instant included two nurses that took photos of a radiograph that depicted an object lodged into a patient’s rectum. One of the nurses allegedly discussed the incident but denied posting a photo to Facebook. Regardless of blame, both nurses were fired (McGowen pg 64). Another incident involved a practical nurse who divulged patient information to a spouse, the spouse then preceded to call the patient and threatened to expose the medical information for personal gain. The nurse was fired and later indicted on federal charges of wrongful disclosure. The nurse faced a fine of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and a prison time of ten years. The punishment was probation for two years and one hundred hours of community service. (McGowen pg
Privacy is a term that applies to all people, it is a right entitled to everyone. In this modern world with smart phones and social media, it can be a challenge to recognize the boundary lines of privacy when taking care of critically ill patients. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was passed by Congress in 1996 to define the rules and regulations concerning multiple topics, one of which is called the Privacy Rule (Mcgowan pg. 61). This rule established national standards to protect patients’ personal health information and medical records. Since that time there has been advancements in technology and now there are things like electronic health records, electronic Pyxis, and online databases …show more content…
One example would be unattended computers left in the hallways while the nurse was still logged into the program and information was visible on the screen to any who might happen by. Along with open computer screens there were printouts of certain tests including but not limited to: ABG results, EKG rhythm strips, education material and what is known as a nurse’s “Brain” all of which had patient names, DOB, medical record numbers, etc. Another potential violation witnessed was the improper discarding of empty IV bags that still contained the patient’s information. The hospital policy regarding the disposal of such material includes that such labels are to be removed prior to disposal and those labels placed into a designated shredder bin located in numerous locations on the …show more content…
Both articles touch base on how to dispose of patient information properly with shredding bins. A unique concept in this article, are the examples of punishments that employees received for accidental and purposeful breeches of privacy. One instant included two nurses that took photos of a radiograph that depicted an object lodged into a patient’s rectum. One of the nurses allegedly discussed the incident but denied posting a photo to Facebook. Regardless of blame, both nurses were fired (McGowen pg 64). Another incident involved a practical nurse who divulged patient information to a spouse, the spouse then preceded to call the patient and threatened to expose the medical information for personal gain. The nurse was fired and later indicted on federal charges of wrongful disclosure. The nurse faced a fine of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and a prison time of ten years. The punishment was probation for two years and one hundred hours of community service. (McGowen pg