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Protecting Patient Privacy: HIPAA Risk Assessment and Management in Medical

Practices.

Patient information privacy is one of the most important aspects of present-day healthcare

practices. HIPAA is an abbreviation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,

which offers some measures for protecting patient information. However, actions that

compromise the confidentiality and privacy of the patients, such as discussing the PHI with third

parties or placing monitors with patients’ information in the ward, have legal and ethical

ramifications. This paper aims to illustrate privacy violations in a medical practice, discuss the

outcomes of such actions, and identify ways to enhance HIPAA compliance in the company. The

following discussion outlines a review of regulations, legal provisions, and ethical considerations

to demonstrate the importance of protecting patient information in healthcare organizations.

HIPAA, Legal, and Regulatory

Patient Privacy and HIPAA Standards

In accordance with HIPAA rules, patients' confidentiality should be maintained.

Privacy is also a major factor that informs and influences the provision of health care services

since it puts the patient at ease knowing that their health details are safe. HIPAA also offers

specific guidelines for maintaining the confidentiality of PHI and mandates that procedures be in

place to ensure that the information is not used improperly or disclosed unnecessarily. In the

presented scenario, it is also a violation of privacy according to HIPAA to disclose information

about HIV testing procedures to a client while in the waiting area with other people around.

Additionally, displaying patient identification information on screens might compromise patient

confidentiality, meaning clinical contexts cannot afford to disregard the provisions of privacy

legislation.
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Healthcare Regulations

Thus, healthcare regulations are not limited to HIPAA, as there are a lot of other legal acts at the

federal and state levels that protect patients’ information. For example, evaluating instances such

as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act that

promotes the adoption of EHRs and simultaneously enhances the consequences of data failure.

Following these regulations is essential in rebuilding the shattered trust between patients and

clinicians. The occurrence points out that to protect patient information, different medical

practices need to follow the HIPAA rules for the possession of patient data and the current and

evolving regulations to afford the best level of protection to patient data.

Legal Guidelines on Appropriate Use of Technology

Regulatory standards also dictate how technology can be applied in providing health care

services to safeguard patients' privacy. These guidelines focus on access control measures, the

encryption of data, and the need to review information security measures occasionally. The

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has noted that organizations

in the healthcare sector must incorporate risk management frameworks to enable them to identify

potential risks that would, in one way or another, threaten the technological platform in the

healthcare delivery system. Hence, regarding the protection of computers, it should be clear that

the absence of compliance with legal prescriptions such as protection of the computer screen

entails that any infractions should be corrected to avoid future repetition.

Scenario Ending and Recommendations

Evaluation

For example, a staff member of a medical practice was eavesdropping on a conversation with a

patient in the waiting room and disclosed information about HIV testing to other people, which is
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prohibited under the Privacy Act, and disclosed the patient’s PHI. Additionally, some files

accessed through computers were also exposed to other patients within the facility since other

patients could easily see information displayed on computer screens. Such actions represent a

clear violation of the HIPAA guidelines and the patient’s rights, leading to a breach of privacy

and confidentiality.

The measures taken by the healthcare provider in this scenario exemplify the need to adhere to

some guidelines regarding the protection of PHI. Making appointments in conspicuous areas and

not ensuring the computer screens are blind in appropriate matters violates HIPAA because

healthcare practitioners are expected to respect the patient’s rights to privacy at all times. These

breaches can result in low patient confidence, legal consequences, and fines in medical practice.

Recommended Actions:

Some of the measures that should be taken by healthcare practices to minimize the

likelihood of suffering from a breach of patient privacy and PHI are as follows. Firstly, there is

the aspect of the code of conduct that prescribes certain restrictions, such as where patient

matters, such as HIV tests, are to be discussed, they can only be in consultation rooms where the

respective staff is ensuring that such issues are not addressed in areas that are reachable by the

public. Proper posting of such signs can help in ensuring that the community is continuously

reminded of these norms. Second, it requires the installation of a privacy screen for all other

computers that process the patient data since PHI should be seen only by the computer operator.

Staff should be reminded periodically about HIPAA compliance, and all information about the

patient should be kept private and shared only with the individuals who need to know the

information to treat the patient.

Last but not least, there is a need to occasionally review and check privacy measures such

as desk lights or conversations that may take place in the open space. This enables any privacy

invasions to be identified immediately, fortifying privacy and patient confidence. These

recommendations are in concordance with the HIPAA Security and Privacy Rule, which

mandates the use of administrative, physical, and technical strategies for the security of patients’

details. Recent studies also advocate that protecting PHI is important in maintaining clients’ trust

and avoiding legal ramifications for care centers.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Specified Technology

The integration of technology in healthcare is crucial, particularly in the areas of patient-related

information and data protection. An EHR facilitates practicing medical practitioners to retrieve

and access as well as share updated, detailed patient records with improved healthcare

management and optimization of professional time. Other measures, such as encryption and

multi-factor authentication, also limit access to patient information, which enhances the security

of these records compared to paper-based records, thereby reducing the chances of exposure to

hackers.

Risks of Inappropriate Use of Technology

However, it is also true that the growth and development of technology have had certain negative

impacts on the healthcare industry. Hacking could expose the patient's details, rack up penalties

and sanctions, and erode the public’s trust in the medical facility. Furthermore, neglect in

handling technology: For example, when patient information is displayed on unprotected

screens, and one is not keen, the patient’s PHI can be displayed. Thus, healthcare professionals
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must be cautious while implementing the technology so that these risks can be avoided and

patient identification information privacy can be safeguarded.

Professional and Ethical Principles Guiding Use

Privacy is an important principle in the delivery of healthcare services. This is because

the patient’s information cannot be disclosed to any third party without the patient’s permission.

With regard to the application of healthcare technology, this code of ethics means that a

professional has every right to protect patients’ data from being leaked. This is in compliance

with the HIPAA regulations governing the confidentiality and integrity of health information.

Healthcare providers also have a responsibility to uphold the principle of nonmaleficence, and

hence, they should not harm the patient, including through the use of technology. To be more

specific, some ethics to protect patients’ welfare can be presented as privacy protection

measures, data restrictions, and employing encrypted methods.

Alongside the professional and ethical principles highlighted above, healthcare organizations can

respond to the potential of embracing this type of technology while simultaneously managing

potential adverse consequences. In addition, adherence to privacy regulations and frequent staff

training are other areas that will enhance the protection of patient identity and decrease the

possibility of data disclosure.

Conclusion

Hence, the leakage of PHI and the actual display of the patient’s information on the computer

screens are significant breaches of HIPAA regulations and professional standards. To address

these challenges, it is crucial to complete effective training, employ information technology

solutions, and monitor patients' information security throughout the learning process. When these

recommendations are implemented, the healthcare providers can do away with these ordeals
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associated with the unauthorized disclosure of PHI and further retain patients' trust. This

knowledge will assist in determining the prospects for additional actions and ensure non-

interference with patients’ privacy while promoting adherence to professional ethics among

healthcare personnel.