The HIPAA Laws Being Ethical And MoralThe HIPAA laws provide protection to individual’s identifiable health information with the benefit of protecting public health. The Privacy Rule particularly permits disclosures exclusive of individual approval to public health authorities authorized by law to gather and obtain the information for the reason of preventing disease, disability or injury, including but not limited to public health observation, examination, and intrusion (Stephen, 2003).
Confidentiality- Privacy Rule
With the case of the wife asking the husband’s medical results, the physician cannot let out the results to her since the results are confidential. HIPAA laws Title II defines guidelines of maintain privacy of one’s identifiable health data. Confidentiality is crucial in ethics where third parties ask for information on medical data collected. In this case the physician should ask the third party (wife) to talk to the patient and agree about the information. In addition a disclosure must be signed by the patient declaring the rights of the third party to know about the results. The HIPAA Privacy Rule legalizes the disclosure and use of Protected Health information held by medical clearing (Stephen, 2003).
Telephone Etiquette
Health care telephone calls ignorance can be dangerous for the health care since the nurses, doctors and other medical administrative staff depends on the receptionist to create a welcoming and friendly front office for the patients. The receptionist is responsible for maintaining an effective environment where patients questions are answered, new patients are registered, appointments are scheduled and records updated. In cases where the receptionist is reluctant to pick calls, one should inform the office administration manager (OAM) to supervise and observe the behavior. Then the (OAM) should call the receptionist and remind her about her duties, and all the telephone etiquettes in a calm manner ask why she/he will not receive calls. Resolve the issue and give a warning of taking measures against it (Percival& Parker, 2009).
Medical error
When a client leaves the hospital without her medical results then definitely she will come back for them however, in cases where a medical error has occurred and a patient has been given the wrong results, then one should invite her to the hospital for another test to verify the results and give the accurate results. Explain you had two samples taken to the lab, one was either positive/valid and the other showed invalid. This time ensure there are no costs occur by the patient since it was a hospital error. Do not give her results at the shopping mall since privacy rule demands on privacy and professional ways to handle information.
Confidential data
One should keep the information confidential about the neighbor. One can choose to help or to keep quiet depending on the relationship you have with the neighbor. If she is friendly, then try to be closer and help her without mentioning about her health unless she tells you about it. In case she confesses her diagnosis don’t tell her you saw the file at the practicum site since it might demoralize her to feel exposed and her information not secure (2013).
Beneficence
It is the patients right to Make decision regarding who should know and be involved in the procedure. Therefore respect the patient’s decision and wait for the next procedure that shall take place without any obligations from the patient. The practitioner should act in the interest of the patient Beneficence (Stephen, 2003).
Loyalty
Having a sick child, I would bring her to the healthcare for check up and she will be diagnosed with the medicine required for her sickness. Taking the medicine would be fraud therefore bringing her for treatment would be the right procedure like the other patients. Equality should be maintained among the staff as well as the patients (Percival& Parker, 2009)
Employees Etiquettes
Every employee has equal rights of existence it the health care and therefore unless one is sick and has been given a sick off permit to exit early from work every other employee should exit the same time as the others. Since it is illegal to leave work early it is advisable to report this matter to the supervisor who should enquire why they go home early and warn them from leaving before time (Percival& Parker, 2009).
Conclusion
HIPAA laws should be observed and put into actions. Those that violate the laws should face the law and be answerable for violation.
Reference
Health, (2013). Protecting personal health information in research: understanding the HIPAA
privacy rule (03-5388). Retrieved from website: http://privacyruleandresearch.nih.gov/pdf/HIPAA_Privacy_Rule_Booklet.pdf
Stephen, B. U.S Department of Health and Human Services, (2003). HIPAA privacy rule and
Public health guidance from CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from U.S. Government Printing Office website: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/m2e411a1.htm
Percival .T &Parker. J (2009). Medical Ethics. pp. 49–57 section 8 pg.52.
