Purchase Solution

Dealing with unauthorized access to private information

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

There are many ways that confidentiality, privacy, and respect can be violated on campus and in practice. It can be as simple as faculty having a conversation about a student , or interns discussing a patient, that is overheard. It can also be complicated. For instance, electronic storage of patient files that are stolen and sold.

How would you handle one of these situations? Please respond to one of the following scenarios.

Your front desk staff was talking about a patient with a friend during lunch and the patient or friend of the patient overheard.
Your intern classmate was describing his patient's physical attributes in detail in the intern lounge.
You catch a patient flipping though another patient's chart that was left on the counter in the treatment room.
The wife of your patient calls to get information on her husband's condition and your staff oblige.
You faxed patient files to the wrong number.
You are an intern and one of the lower term faculty members asks you about a student you are treating in the clinic.
A faculty member accidentally sends a grade report to the wrong student.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

Several examples of release of private or confidential material is examined to determine the best course of action to rectify the situation. Web references provided.

Solution Preview

Access to private information regarding a patient or research participant comes with the responsibility of safeguarding this confidential information. Confidential information can include information including a person's medial history, current treatments, and identity. See the US Department of Health and Human Services for more information about HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/). Following proper HIPPA protocols requires education and enforcement of standards in line with HIPPA regulations.

Let's look at the individual cases:
1. Your front desk staff was talking about a patient with a friend during lunch and the patient or friend of the patient overheard.
In this case you would need to speak to your front desk staff about maintaining patient confidentiality even in casual conversation. You would also need to speak with the patient ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Celiac Disease

This quiz will provide a brief introduction to Celiac Disease. Questions will focus on definitions and symptoms.

What everyone should know about MRSA

This quiz focuses on what everyone should know about community MRSA. Community MSRA is an infection in healthy people.

Stress Continuum

All humans experience stress and a certain level is motivating for learning. However, a high level of stress for prolonged periods of time may have a negative impact. This information focuses on the four stages of stress. Understanding stress assists in maintaining a healthy level.

Vitals about a Patient's Vitals

Basic questions about blood pressure and measurements.

CPR (Red Cross Standards)

Are you up to date on your CPR skills? Find out if you know what to do in an emergency with this quiz.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Privacy of payroll information

    The most effective controls in avoiding a busybody in the organization from assessing this information, is to deny the access of unauthorized individuals to the departments in which private information is kept, as well as to ensure that there are a number

  • Review of Articles on Elements of Computer Security

    Most of the firms prefer to adopt a reactive approach rather than a proactive approach in dealing with information and computer security threats.

  • HIPAA Privacy Information

    If a covered entity is dealing with material that is considered private and covered under the HIPAA Privacy Rule then certain steps must be taken.

  • Digital Privacy

    legal right to make private information on U.S. citizens available to the public, and whether or not you agree with this law. 5.Determine whether there are "electronic privacy laws" that can prevent others from having access to "private information"

  • Organization or Policy Changes

    Through management information support (reflecting the privacy and security policies), large or small organizations can monitor: - Attempts (either failed or successful) to gain unauthorized access to a system or its data - Unintended and unauthorized

  • Trends and Security Requirements in Electronic Health Records

    Unauthorized access of EMRs can lead to public sharing of private health information that can jeopardize a person's employment, reputation, and relationships.

  • Employee's Right to Privacy

    Restrict access to equipment with sensitive information * Unauthorized access to information by temporary staff, e.g. consultants, service engineers etc. Limit their access to the system to the time and day required for the specific task.

  • Information systems and security

    The organization's data and information is also subject to threats from unauthorized users who may access the company's network and data by obtaining passwords or security codes.

  • Firewalls

    An enterprise with an intranet that allows its workers access to the wider Internet installs a firewall to prevent outsiders from accessing its own private data resources and for controlling what outside resources its own users have access to.

View More Related Solutions