Capella 4040 Assessment 2

Capella 4040 Assessment 2 Protected Health Information PHI Privacy Security and Confidentiality Best Practice

Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX 4040 Managing Health Information and Technology

Prof. Name

Date

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

In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was established to offer individuals rights and protections regarding their health information (CDC, 2018). HIPAA provides guidelines for the secure use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI) by organizations managing health data. PHI encompasses data related to an individual’s past, current, or future physical or mental health, collected or generated by healthcare providers, health plans, employers, public health authorities, or other entities. This includes identifiable information like names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, account numbers, clinical data, and diagnoses (HIPAA, 2018).

Summary of PHI Laws

The HIPAA Security Rule mandates that covered entities implement measures to safeguard electronic PHI (ePHI), establishing national standards to protect this information from unauthorized access, misuse, or exposure (Gatehouse, 2020). If unprotected PHI is compromised, the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities to inform affected individuals and may involve notification to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and, in certain cases, the media (Heath et al., 2021). Additionally, the HIPAA Enforcement Rule outlines procedures for HHS to investigate violations and impose penalties on entities that fail to comply. Penalties can include monetary fines, corrective actions, and legal sanctions (Moore & Frye, 2019).

Best Practices for Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality

HIPAA regulations provide a structured approach for multidisciplinary teams to secure ePHI, requiring entities to adopt appropriate safeguards against unauthorized access or use. These regulations also allow HHS to take legal actions against non-compliant entities and ensure individuals maintain control over their PHI. This legal framework underscores the importance of teamwork in managing ePHI security.

The Importance of Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for securing ePHI, as it enables diverse stakeholders to work together to safeguard patient data in compliance with privacy and security regulations. An interdisciplinary team comprising a privacy officer, IT staff, legal counsel, and health information management specialists can enhance a healthcare organization’s ability to secure ePHI. Such teams can establish policies and procedures, including access controls and encryption, to protect sensitive data. In addition, these teams are instrumental in formulating response strategies for potential data breaches (Beckmann et al., 2021).

Evidence-Based Strategies to Mitigate Risks for Patients and Healthcare Staff

Organizations can implement evidence-based practices to minimize risks associated with the use of social media that may involve sensitive ePHI (Health, 2022). Recommended strategies include:

Developing a social media policy with clear guidelines for interacting with patients and sharing health information.
Utilizing HIPAA-compliant and encrypted communication tools to maintain data security.
Educating employees on social media risks and the importance of protecting private health information.
Monitoring social media for unauthorized disclosures and ensuring compliance.
Restricting access to sensitive health information to necessary personnel.
Implementing authentication processes for anyone accessing sensitive data.
Regularly updating best practices and protocols for protecting private health information.

Effective Staff Training for Interprofessional Teams

Healthcare providers are responsible for securing patient data privacy, particularly when utilizing social media (Arigo et al., 2018). Medical professionals must maintain patient confidentiality and follow established rules when using social media. Key guidelines include avoiding discussions about patient health or treatment, refraining from posting patient-identifying details, and not requesting or sharing patient information over social media.

Capella 4040 Assessment 2

Best Practice Area	Description	Example Strategies
Protected Health Information (PHI)	HIPAA guidelines outline the use and protection of identifiable health information collected or created by health-related entities (HIPAA, 2018).	Keep names, addresses, Social Security numbers, clinical details, and account numbers confidential and secure.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration	Different health professionals work together to ensure ePHI security and compliance with laws (Beckmann et al., 2021).	Assemble a team of privacy officers, IT staff, legal experts, and health management specialists to create policies, procedures, and response plans.
Social Media Policy and Training	Develop a policy and train staff to manage ePHI securely on social media platforms (Arigo et al., 2018; Health, 2022).	Ensure social media communications are HIPAA-compliant, educate staff on safeguarding sensitive information, monitor accounts for unauthorized disclosures, and use authentication methods for data access.

References

Almaghrabi, N. S., & Bugis, B. A. (2022). Patient confidentiality of electronic health records: A recent review of the Saudi literature. Dr. Sulaiman al Habib Medical Journal, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44229-022-00016-9

Basil, N. N., Ambe, S., Ekhator, C., & Fonkem, E. (2022). Health records database and inherent security concerns: A review of the literature. Cureus, 14(10). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30168

HIPAA Journal. (2023, February). HIPAA social media rules – updated 2023. https://www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-social-media/

Javaid, D. M., Haleem, Prof. A., Singh, D. R. P., & Suman, D. R. (2023). Towards insighting cybersecurity for healthcare domains: A comprehensive review of recent practices and trends. Cyber Security and Applications, 1(100016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csa.2023.100016

Capella 4040 Assessment 2

Kerr, H., Booth, R., & Jackson, K. (2020). Exploring the characteristics and behaviors of nurses who have attained microcelebrity status on Instagram: Content analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(5), e16540. https://doi.org/10.2196/16540

Vos, J. F. J., Boonstra, A., Kooistra, A., Seelen, M., & van Offenbeek, M. (2020). The influence of electronic health record use on collaboration among medical specialties. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 676. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05542-6

Vukusic Rukavina, T., Viskic, J., Machala Poplasen, L., Relic, D., Marelic, M., Jokic, D., & Sedak, K. (2020). Dangers and benefits of social media on e-professionalism of healthcare professionals: Scoping review (preprint). Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(11). https://doi.org/10.2196/25770

Capella 4040 Assessment 2

Yeo, L. H., & Banfield, J. (2022). Human factors in electronic health records cybersecurity breach: An exploratory analysis. Perspectives in Health Information Management, 19(Spring), 1i. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9123525/