Technologies and Patient Privacy

Health care professionals have long recognized the importance of maintaining the privacy of patients’ personal health information. However, today’s technologies, such as social media applications, mobile phones, electronic charting, etc., made it more difficult to protect patients health information. Health care professionals need to be aware that mishandling patient's information can result in fines and/or termination. Violation for breach of privacy can range from $100 to $50,000 for each violation (Research institutions, 2011).

There are more and more health care professionals who use their mobile phones to communicate with colleagues and patients, as well as accessing clinical materials. While mobile phones are now acceptable in many facilities, inappropriate use of mobile phones are unprofessional and can cause a breach in patients' confidentiality (Munro, 2011). Health care professionals need to avoid using mobile phone when involved in direct patient care because private conversations with patient can be heard easily by the person on the other line of the phone.

Social media applications, such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc., are another issue that health care providers need to pay close attention to when it comes to protecting patients health information. These applications, although offer benefits to our way of communication, they also pose new dilemmas for the health care professionals (Cain, 2011).

Because our society relies greatly on electronic database, employers are at higher risk for breach of privacy, unless they take steps to prevent this problem. Electronic medical records make it easier to access protected health information and accidental disclosure of patients' health information ( Research institutions, 2011).

According to the Research institutions (2011), ways to prevent electronic breach of privacy are:

• Create linking documents instead of using patients' names.
• Use encryption on all computers.
• Ensure business associates know their responsibilities.
• Write Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for handling a privacy breach.

References:

Cain, J. (2011). Social media in health care: The case for organizational policy and employee education. American Journal of  Health-System Pharmacy, 68(11), 1036-1040. doi:10.2146/ajhp100589

Munro, R. (2011). Major talking point. Nursing Standard, 25(39), 22-23. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Research institutions face exorbitant fines if accidentally release PHI. (2011). Clinical Trials Administrator, 9(4), 40-42.Retrieved from EBSCOhost.