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the primary goals of healthcare information system are the protection of client

ID: 61330 • Letter: T

Question

the primary goals of healthcare information system are the protection of client confidentiality and information availability and integrity. You notice that a new intern for one of your major med/surg unit has a PDA on which she keeps patients information but today she left it in the cafeteria after lunch. What should you do? Discuss your rational for doing it? You notice that a new intern for one of your major med/surg unit has a PDA on which she keeps patients information but today she left it in the cafeteria after lunch. What should you do? Discuss your rational for doing it?

Explanation / Answer

Health care workers should follow certain important measures to protect confidentiality of the patient anywhere in the hospital, clinic, office, or in the field. They should never discuss the patient’s case with anyone without the permission of the patient, even with the family and friends during off-duty hours. They should not leave the records that contain patient information where unauthorized persons may access them. They should use only secure routes to send patient’s information.

But in this case, the new intern had left the PDA in cafeteria. Since information in medical records is considered highly private and sensitive, there will be serious warning to her. Even medical ethics and rules, state laws, and the federal law known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), generally require doctors and their staff to keep patients' medical records confidential.

As soon as we observe the PDA left in cafeteria, we should inform the thing to the one who take personal care of the patient and we should make sure that the PDA reach them immediately in a secure route. It should be done instantly before no individual go through the patient’s information. Local health care law attorney is the good idea to contact in case there is no proper confidentially for patient’s information in hospitals.