HIPAA In The Medical Clinic

HIPAA in the Clinic

How many times have you heard information in a medical setting that you probably should not have? Humans have a natural tendency to share information. In the medical field, this can be hard to overcome but it is essential to the job. Administrative and clinical duties performed by medical assistants are impacted daily by confidentiality and those who fill these roles need to understand the importance HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) and how it not only impacts their profession but how it impacts each individual patient. Medical assistants have such a diverse role in clinics and need to protect each patient’s private information no matter what the task. While this seems like…show more content…
Usually they are talking about their personal lives or advising one another about a patient being ready but in some circumstances, information that should not be shared may slip out. Not only is this a violation of HIPAA laws, it is also very disrespectful to the patient, the doctor and anyone within earshot. How could the other patients feel confident that their private information will stay that way? In an age where there are certain things that are embarrassing to people, such as drug use or sexual history, how can the physician expect to get an honest answer from a patient who just heard the nurses gossiping about the previous patient? In these cases, the doctor is not acquiring enough accurate information to complete his/her diagnosis and treatment. Medical professionals are required to live up to their name by treating patients, co-workers and their physicians with the professional respect they deserve. Engelke summed it up well, “It is the nurse’s legal and ethical duty to maintain patient confidentiality and provide patients with an environment in which they feel comfortable disclosing accurate and detailed information about themselves and their health condition. Full disclosure offers members of the health care team a more complete understanding of the patient’s condition, and increases the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis and improved communication…show more content…
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