HIPPA is committed to maintaining the privacy of any patient’s personal information. In this case, healthcare professionals need to ensure that any medical information that can be used to identify a patient is not disclosed to third parties without consent (What is considered protected, n.d). Medical professionals have access to any information that can be used to provide medical services to a patient. Therefore, it is legitimate to use the data to continue treatment and to ensure patient safety. I can use the patient’s medical data to communicate and transmit the necessary prescriptions and instructions since the quality of the services provided by the hospital depends on this. I can correct this error and send copies of the documents to the patient by email or other technically reliable communication channels, having previously obtained his consent. The patient can also visit the hospital to receive written prescriptions and instructions for recovery.
Hospitals can use a variety of methods to enhance and maintain the privacy of reception or waiting room information. First, it is necessary to strictly monitor all documents so that they do not appear in the hands of visitors or other patients. Second, it is necessary to plan the space so that patients and visitors do not have direct visual contact with any personal data. Third, it is important to separate the area for communication between medical workers from the reception itself so that information cannot be accidentally overheard. The breach in confidentiality leads to the legal responsibility of the medical professional to the patient since the disclosure of personal data can cause significant harm. Additionally, the healthcare professional can face fines, disciplinary penalties, including dismissal, as such episodes damage the reputation of the healthcare facility.
There are exceptions to the confidentiality rules that exist to prevent any dangerous or unfavorable situation. For example, a court may require the disclosure of personal medical information in case of proceedings or in the investigation of crimes as evidence. HIPPA also emphasizes that data that cannot be used to identify a patient is not private, which also makes it possible to use them for statistics or research (What is considered protected, n.d). However, in this case, it is necessary to observe all precautions to conceal the specific individuals who own the data.
Reference
What is considered protected health information under HIPAA? (n.d). HIPPA Journal. Web.