Question

Describe some of the guidelines and protocols that you are required to follow when it comes to protecting patient information.

Answer 1

some of the guidelines to be followed to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the patient:

• Medical records of the patients has to be handled carefully by the staff so that it cannot be either misplaced or mishandled by others.
• The LIS(laboratory information system) or the software that is used in the hospital should have some strict regulations to be followed by the staff like each staff having their own userid and password to verify the reports or to authorise the other sessions like billing,registration,dispatch of medical formats,reports etc.
• Patients information should not be texted or sent through watsapp even if the staff or the doctor insists,it is against the confidentiality violations.
• Work from home kind of concept should not be applicable to the hospitals and diagnostics staff as a person cannot work on patient information in home computers .
• Posting about patient information with their identity or patient photos in news papers or social media is againts the HIPAA violation.
• Necessary training should be given to the staff on protecting the patients confidentiality and also the consequences to be faced if it is violated.
• Facility policies and procedures to be followed.
• All the paperwork and the documentation has to be locked in any room or chamber where only the staff can enter.