Hi Everyone,
This is a great discussion on a very contemporary problem that will continue to be an issue in this information age. Take HIPAA out of the equation for a moment, every person has so much personal information in various computer systems, we don’t even know the extent of it all. For instance, to name a few computer databases a nursing professional’s information resides are the Board of Nursing for every state he/she is licensed in, any professional organization he/she is certified through, and professional/trade association he/she is active in as a board member/committee chair. An enterprising reporter can put together a fairly complete picture of any of us using publically available information. Add to that, something a family says or does, inferences can be made and stories go viral without anyone making a specific HIPAA violation. …show more content…
Now PHI is allowed to be shared during the course of an investigation during a communicable disease outbreak to notify someone who is at risk due to possible exposure (Maruca, 2014). Now, to me, this is where things get into a gray area, what is to keep the person that was notified of possible exposure from going to reporters and broadcasting data? Did the covered entity do anything wrong? No, the covered entity followed the law and a citizen chose to share what he/she had been
This is a great discussion on a very contemporary problem that will continue to be an issue in this information age. Take HIPAA out of the equation for a moment, every person has so much personal information in various computer systems, we don’t even know the extent of it all. For instance, to name a few computer databases a nursing professional’s information resides are the Board of Nursing for every state he/she is licensed in, any professional organization he/she is certified through, and professional/trade association he/she is active in as a board member/committee chair. An enterprising reporter can put together a fairly complete picture of any of us using publically available information. Add to that, something a family says or does, inferences can be made and stories go viral without anyone making a specific HIPAA violation. …show more content…
Now PHI is allowed to be shared during the course of an investigation during a communicable disease outbreak to notify someone who is at risk due to possible exposure (Maruca, 2014). Now, to me, this is where things get into a gray area, what is to keep the person that was notified of possible exposure from going to reporters and broadcasting data? Did the covered entity do anything wrong? No, the covered entity followed the law and a citizen chose to share what he/she had been