NURS FPX 4040 Assessment 2 – Protected Health Information (PHI), Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality Best Practice  NURS-FPX4040 Managing Health Information and Technology

 

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

In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a federal legislation, was enacted to provide individuals with rights and protections concerning their health information (CDC, 2018). It outlines guidelines for the appropriate use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI) by businesses dealing with health data. Any data relating to an individual’s current, past, or future physical or mental health, obtained or generated by healthcare providers, health plans, public health authorities, employers, or other healthcare service providers, is considered protected health information (HIPAA, 2018). Examples of such data include names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, account numbers, clinical details, and diagnoses.

Summary of PHI Laws

The HIPAA Security Rule sets forth national requirements to safeguard electronic PHI (ePHI) (Gatehouse, 2020). It mandates that covered entities implement necessary measures to prevent unauthorized access, misuse, or disclosure of ePHI. In case unprotected PHI is compromised, covered entities are obligated under the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule to inform the affected individuals (Heath et al., 2021). Furthermore, covered entities are required to notify the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and, in specific cases, the media, as per the Rule. The HIPAA Enforcement Rule outlines the procedures HHS must follow to investigate and penalize organizations violating HIPAA Rules. This includes imposing sanctions for non-compliance, such as civil monetary fines, corrective action plans, and potential legal actions (Moore & Frye, 2019).

Best Practices for Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality

The aforementioned regulations provide a robust foundation for multidisciplinary teams to safeguard the privacy of sensitive electronic health information. These laws necessitate that covered entities implement reasonable and necessary safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of ePHI. They also outline processes for HHS to take legal action against entities breaching HIPAA Rules and ensure individuals have control over their PHI.

The Significance of Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Interdisciplinary collaboration is vital for securing sensitive electronic health information (ePHI) as it allows various stakeholders to work together to ensure patient data security and compliance with data privacy and security laws. By leveraging knowledge from various disciplines, organizations can better comprehend the risks associated with managing ePHI and devise measures to secure it (Beckmann et al., 2021).