Capella FPX 4045 Assessment 2

Capella FPX 4045 Assessment 2

Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX4045 Nursing Informatics: Managing Health Information and Technology

Prof. Name

Date

Protected Health Information (PHI)

Understanding Protected Health Information (PHI)

Protected Health Information (PHI) includes any patient data that can identify an individual and relates to their health status, treatment, or care. Examples include names, addresses, birthdates, care plans, medication protocols, and insurance details (Murdoch, 2021). In hospice and palliative care, maintaining PHI confidentiality is crucial to preserving trust and complying with legal regulations like HIPAA.

HIPAA and Its Role in Privacy Protection

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was established to ensure the privacy and security of individuals’ PHI across the United States (Tovino, 2022). Key provisions include:

• Patient Consent: Explicit authorization is required before sharing PHI, including end-of-life information.
• Security Rule: Requires protection of Electronic Health Information (EHI) against unauthorized access—especially when using telehealth or digital communication platforms.
• Privacy Rule: Ensures PHI is not disclosed without patient approval. For instance, discussing end-of-life care in non-private spaces may violate this rule (Cooke et al., 2022).
• Confidentiality Rule: Prohibits sharing patient updates via insecure channels like unprotected social media apps, which can result in privacy breaches.

Collaborative Efforts to Secure PHI

An interdisciplinary approach is essential for maintaining PHI confidentiality in virtual hospice and palliative care settings:

• Clinical Teams receive cybersecurity training and use encrypted platforms for sensitive discussions.
• Administrators oversee compliance, implement strict data protocols, and allocate resources for IT security.
• IT and Security Staff safeguard digital platforms using firewalls, encryption, and routine audits to detect vulnerabilities (Murdoch, 2021).
• Outcome: Collaborative strategies enhance patient safety and ensure ethical data handling.

Real-World Evidence of Social Media Violations

Healthcare professionals must refrain from posting clinical details or emotional reflections online. Failure to protect PHI can lead to:

• Job Termination and Legal Sanctions
• License Revocation and Financial Penalties

• Example Cases:

  • Anthem, Inc.: Fined \$16 million after a data breach affecting 79 million individuals.
  • Memorial Healthcare System: Paid \$5.5 million due to staff accessing and selling PHI.
  • Unauthorized Disclosures: Penalties range from \$100 to \$50,000 per incident (Chin, 2023).

Best Practices for PHI and EHI Protection

To secure PHI in hospice and palliative care environments, healthcare organizations should:

• Conduct Safety Audits: Regularly assess telehealth systems and gather feedback to improve data protection.
• Use Advanced Security Systems: Implement SSL encryption and firewalls to safeguard remote patient communications (Mayo Clinic, 2024).
• Offer Cybersecurity Training: Equip healthcare workers with knowledge and tools for safe EHI handling (Anhalt et al., 2022).

Social Media Guidelines for Healthcare Providers

Strategies to Ensure HIPAA Compliance Online

• Staff Training: Ongoing education on HIPAA and social media policies.
• Policy Implementation: Clear, written guidelines on appropriate digital behavior.
• Compliance Oversight: Assign staff to monitor and manage potential violations (Anhalt et al., 2022).

Social Media Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

• Share general healthcare tips (not patient-specific).
• Maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
• Use secure, HIPAA-compliant communication platforms.

Don’t:

• Post patient photos or share treatment narratives.
• Disclose sensitive care experiences.
• Publish personal reflections about patient interactions.

References

Anhalt, S. A., et al. (2022). The 21st century cures act and multiuser electronic health record access. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(2), e34085. https://doi.org/10.2196/34085

Chin, K. (2023). Top 20 worst HIPAA violation cases in history. UpGuard. https://www.upguard.com/blog/worst-hipaa-violation-cases

Cooke, E., et al. (2022). Ethics of health information sharing at end of life. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(4), 1153–1166. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648211053308

Capella FPX 4045 Assessment 2

Mayo Clinic. (2024). Privacy policy. https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-this-site/privacy-policy

Murdoch, B. (2021). Privacy and artificial intelligence in health care. Biomed Central Medical Ethics, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-021-00687-3

Tovino, S. A. (2022). Health privacy, security, and information management. Laws of Medicine, 223–238. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08162-0_13