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02.14.03      
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Putting privacy at center stage
 

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A message from HIPAA project manager Shari Bedar

n April 14, the privacy regulations of the nation’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) will become effective. This law establishes regulations that set privacy, security and electronic transactions requirements for the use of patient health care information. One of the most important regulations governs patients’ privacy and the confidentiality of their “protected health information.”

Children’s has always been committed to protecting patients’ privacy and the confidentiality of their health information, and HIPAA reinforces these values and builds on protections we already have in place. Under the new standards, Children’s will further improve its practices. The regulations give patients additional rights to control their health information, establishes limits on how providers can use and release patients’ health information, and calls for physical, administrative, and computer-based safeguards to protect that information.

Protecting privacy and confidentiality is the responsibility of every member of the Children’s community. Employees may only use patient information on a “need to know” basis—even information as basic as names and phone numbers. Employees should not discuss information about patients unless it is administratively or clinically necessary.

As the April 14 deadline approaches, you will be learning more about HIPAA, how you can improve the protection of patient information and how the HIPAA Privacy standards will affect you and your work. It is very important that we all understand our responsibilities. Because these requirements are mandated by federal law, both the hospital and individual employees are legally responsible to ensure our practices are compliant.

Contact me in the HIPAA Program Office at ext. 5-2798 for more information or with any questions.—SB


Related links:

HIPAA
Department of Health and Human Services

 

 

 

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