Question

legal and ethical aspects of health information management

CHAPTER 9 . Confidentiality and Informed Consent ENRICHMEN ACTIVITY ou are the director of health information management at a health care institution. Determine Imagine y how your institution will address issues of patient confidentiality, including programs to educate staff on the issues of patient confidentiality. Contemplate the increased use o electronic means of communication and the impact these will have on the issue of patien ality. Draft an outline of your institution's policy on patient confidentiality and plan for staff education. f computerized databases and t confidenti-

Answer 1

Confidentiality is one of the ethical principles to be maintained by the healthcare system . It is very important to maintain privacy of patients health information . Being the director of Health Information Management , it needs specific attention towards lthe maintainance of confidentiality of patients health data. Special attention is given to any breech of information .

Hospital softwares are designed which require login IDs to get access through it and enter the information or to get any particular information regarding patient. The staffs are provided with individual login IDs to use the software and are given training on how to maintain data in the software and its privacy including the terms and conditions . Information technology is being used at a huge rate to make it easy for the staffs to function and to decrease their burden of paper work and time utilisation .

Before using it ,it needs to be aware of the functionality of software and the areas which can cause data insecurity . Proper training and education of how to maintain confidentiality of patients health information is provided to staffs as it's a legal matter which affects both patient and the staffs.

It must be well mentioned in the policy of the hospital that :-

- Confidentiality is one of the main aspects ,and has to be maintained by the healthcare staffs regarding patients health information. Any deviations from the policy or leakage of patients health information by staffs will be a punishable offense and strict action will be taken against the staff.