Health Privacy and Confidentiality

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which is intended to protect the client or patient's health information from being used inappropriately. The paper explains how the right to privacy for a patient or client is an important aspect of health care. The paper also discusses how the exchange of information is not a simple process, but if done legally and correctly, it will keep a person's health information safe.

From the Paper:

"Our wellness, both physical and mental, is dependant upon our health information to be available and to be viewed or reviewed by the necessary individuals or groups involved in our health care. When health information is used appropriately, it promotes trust from the client or patient. Appropriate use of health information is also an important factor in the quality and standard of care from health organizations. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case and the honor system failed, because of cases or incidents where health information was mishandled, the government stepped in to create and put into legislation the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996(United States Department of Health & Human Services [USDHHS], 2007, 1), otherwise known to many in the health field as HIPAA."

Sample of Sources Used:

• American Medical News (2007, October 1, 2007). Prying eyes: Protecting pateint records. Retrieved November 16, 2007, from http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/10/01bisa101.htm
• United States Department of Health & Human Services (2007, September 13, 2007). HIPAA Statute. Retrieved November 15,2007, from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/

More papers on Health Privacy and Confidentiality:

• Analytical Essay # 132534 : "Medical e-Records: Security and Confidentiality Issues"
• Analytical Essay # 113705 : "Electronic Health Records and Ethics"
• Persuasive Essay # 108968 : "Electronic Health Records: The Ethical Issues"

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