 April 17, 2003
Privacy in health care is not a new topic, and most states and hospitals already had privacy regulations and policies in place. The American Health Information Management Association, for example, has been a strong advocate for patient privacy since 1928 and the professionals practicing health information in health care organizations across America have embraced this ethic as a professional discipline for as many years. Today, the new regulations help to further define what is classified as protected health information and the rules give patients more control over who can view their private medical information. According to information provided in a news release, PeaceHealth is dedicated to safeguarding patients' medical records and is working to help all patients to fully understand their medical privacy rights and how their medical information may be used. Information provided by PeaceHealth noted that the law protects patient information in new ways but allows all essential healthcare activities and communications to go on. Upon entering the hospital for any service after the rules take effect, all patients must receive a one-time Notice of Privacy Practice (NPP) that will fully define how KGH, including all its departments and physicians, will comply with the law. The NPP will also outline what new rights patients have to make specific designations for privacy and communication of their personal and protected health information. Consumers of health care are entitled to know how HIPAA impacts their relationship with their medical care providers and physicians, and what PeaceHealth's specific privacy policies are. With an increase in the use of computerized systems to collect, store and transmit patients' personal health information, the framers of HIPAA also felt it was crucial to include standards in the legislation for maintaining privacy through electronic security. In addition to protecting computerized health information, the privacy regulations and standards extend to information that appears on paper or communicated orally. PeaceHealth employees have always been trained in privacy and security of patients' personal health information. Under HIPAA, PeaceHealth has embraced the regulations across all regions and has expanded its privacy practices. The scope of privacy has been widened to incorporate administrative procedures, physical safeguards such as locks on file cabinets, and technical measures such as password protections. KGH is not essentially changing the way it has always done business, but it is adding increased safeguards that will keep them in compliance with federal law while at the same time empowering medical providers with the tools provide exceptional care.
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