What´s HIPAA Privacy Rule?

Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the two important terms that need to be understood and followed properly include “use” and “disclosure”. The use of PHI involves the information to be utilized and communicated within the healthcare entity. The disclosure of PHI involves the information to be released to an individual or outside entity that follows a request. In general, HIPAA Privacy Rule protect individual’s rights to their PHI and holds covered entities accountable for providing an accounting of disclosures for PHI. With that being said, covered entities need take proper protocols on implementing the best method to track disclosures.
There are several different ways or methods to keep track of disclosures within a covered entity. For instance, two methods that could be used are computerized tracking systems and manual logs. According to Dougherty (2001), she defines computerized tracking systems as a method utilized by “a spreadsheet or database that collects the required content for an accounting”. As for …show more content…
Computerized tracking systems have the advantages of capturing disclosures for the entire entity based on the computer network being used. Also this method utilizes can easily locate records of disclosure and are able to print upon request. However, the use of any computer system are not always safe due to systems crashing or being hacked. On the other hand, manual logs have the advantage of tracking disclosures and information by written proof from the individual requesting PHI. According to Dougherty (2001), she explains about manual log disadvantage is when “multiple individuals disclose information, a mechanism would need to be in place to capture all disclosures”. Therefore, employees would need to be informed about the certain mechanisms for each of these methods in order to have a successful tracking system in