Protected Health Information (PHI)- Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality Best Practices

Protected Health Information (PHI)- Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality Best Practices

Protected Health Information (PHI)

PHI is information that can be used to identify an individual’s health status, medical treatment course, or payment history (Isola & Al Khalili, 2022). ). In a hospital setting, HIPAA provisions ensure the safety of PHI to protect patient privacy and confidentiality. Notably, PHI covers diversified forms of data, including medical records, billing information, and even health-related conversations. Confidentiality laws, especially HIPAA regulations, mandate strict privacy for electronic health records in multidisciplinary groups of healthcare providers. HIPAA’s Privacy Rule compels the safeguard of PHI by restricting its use and disclosure to authorized personnel, whereas the Security Rule demands the implementation of measures aimed at barring unauthorized access to electronic PHI (ePHI). Interdisciplinary teamwork matters most in meeting the regulations, as each team member has a role in guaranteeing patient confidentiality and data security.

Understanding PHI and HIPAA

PHI in a hospital comprises any information identifying an individual’s health status, treatment, and payment record (Moore & Frye, 2019). HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, secures PHI and ensures patient privacy in hospital settings.

Note: Sharing PHI on social media without the consent of patients is a HIPAA violation and can be legally and ethically detrimental.

In hospitals, privacy is defined as a patient’s ability to decide who has access to their health records. For instance, talking about the patient’s data where public members can overhear can infringe on the patient’s right to privacy (Bani Issa et al., 2020). Security in hospitals encompasses ensuring that an unauthorized person cannot access health information and that it is readily accessible when needed, for instance, that an unauthorized person cannot access electronic health records. Confidentiality prevents the release of patient data to unauthorized individuals or the public.

Importance of Interdisciplinary Collaboration

In a hospital setting, interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for safeguarding electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). Healthcare professionals from various departments must work together to secure ePHI at each stage of its lifecycle. IT experts implement technical safeguards such as encryption and secure access controls, while clinical staff follow strict protocols to ensure patient information remains confidential. For example, a nurse must ensure that patient records are not left unattended and are inaccessible to unauthorized individuals. Additionally, administrative staff are responsible for training and policy enforcement, ensuring everyone understands their role in protecting patient data.

Social Media Usage and PHI

Hospital staff must be cautious about social media usage to avoid PHI breaches. A notable case involved a nurse who was terminated for posting a patient’s wound on social media without consent, violating HIPAA regulations. This incident highlights the critical importance of adhering to hospital policies on social media use to protect PHI. Staff should always ensure that no identifiable patient information is shared online and that privacy is maintained in all forms of communication, reinforcing the need for continuous education and awareness of HIPAA

Evidence-Based Strategies

Evidence-based strategies to mitigate the risks of sensitive electronic health information include:

– Regular cyber security training and education for hospital staff,

– Incorporation of robust access controls and encryption procedures for electronic health records,

– Adoption of secure communication platforms that will facilitate information exchange, and

– Routine audits and monitoring of electronic systems for weak spots (Tertulino et al., 2023).

Best Practices for Social Media Use

Hospital staff should:

• Obtain Explicit Consent: Never expose information or anonymized images of patients to the public without their explicit consent.
• Maintain Professionalism: It is inadvisable to talk about patient cases or share data that can define patients on social media.
• Educate and Train Staff: Offer education and training on social media policies, HIPAA regulations, and the potential risks related to using social media in healthcare.
• Monitor Privacy Settings: Review and tune privacy settings of social media accounts from time to time to remain in control over who can access posts and personal info.

Think before Posting: Exercise caution and balance the influence that patient privacy

References

Bani Issa, W., Al Akour, I., Ibrahim, A., Almarzouqi, A., Abbas, S., Hisham, F., & Griffiths, J. (2020). Privacy, Confidentiality, security and patient safety concerns about electronic health records. International Nursing Review, 67(2), 218–230. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12585

Isola, S., & Al Khalili, Y. (2022). Protected health information. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31985924/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Health%20Insurance

Moore, W., & Frye, S. (2019). Review of HIPAA, Part 1: History, protected health information, and privacy and security rules. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 47(4), 269–272. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.119.227819

Tertulino, R., Antunes, N., & Morais, H. (2023). Privacy in electronic health records: A systematic mapping study. Journal of Public Health, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-022-01795-z

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Prepare a 2-page for interprofessional staff updates on HIPAA and appropriate social media use in health care.

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Introduction
Healthcare providers today must develop their skills in mitigating risks to their patients and themselves related to patient information. At the same time, they need to be able to distinguish between effective and ineffective uses of social media in health care.

Protected Health Information (PHI)- Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality Best Practices

This assessment will require you to develop a staff update for an interprofessional team to encourage team members to protect the privacy, confidentiality, and security of patient information.

Professional Context
Health professionals today are increasingly accountable for the use of protected health information (PHI). Various government and regulatory agencies promote and support privacy and security through a variety of activities. Examples include:

Meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR).
Provision of EHR incentive programs through Medicare and Medicaid.
Enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules.
Release of educational resources and tools to help providers and hospitals address privacy, security, and confidentiality risks in their practices.
Technological advances, such as the use of social media platforms and applications for patient progress tracking and communication, have provided more access to health information and improved communication between care providers and patients.