Help with the privacy of your medical records?!
Question: Help with the privacy of your medical records.?
There are rules and regulations for hospitals and any service you partisicpate in to make sure your medical records are kept confidential. Can anyone help me think of three specific things that not only me but my medical provider can do to keep the records private.? I know that by making sure the staff is fully aware of the HIPAA rules and having a proper trained staff is one. I also know that by watching all papers that I personally am signing helps keep my records confidential. Can anyone else think of more ways for both me and the provider.? Thanks.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Shred all your paper work that you no longer need. I worked in a film library for a couple of years and we made sure that we, the employee, were the only ones who had access to the files (i.e. kept doors locked from the public). We also changed from patient ssn to a medical identification number that was solely used for that hospital. This limited the use of ssn in a more public area (i.e. check-in desk). If you have your personal medical records on your computer, make sure they are encoded to prevent hackers from stealing your information. Health Question & Answer
in this day and age, many hospitals use computer charting and information storage so being aware of the position of the monitor when charting and reviewing information is very important, also making sure you are signed off the system when you walk away so no one else can access information under your name/password. Use of a code word by persons who call to get updates on patients condition. Making sure any papers containing patient information is put into a container to be shredded as opposed to throwing them into the regular trash can. Health Question & Answer
There isn't any reason that your medical records should be made public. If so you could personally sue them, and HIPPA will fine them as well. Since HIPPA has evolved over the past few years it has made it almost impossible for someone to access your files. The only reason this should happen is if you records are summoned by the police or in court. Or if your not 18 your parents can have access to you files if needed. Don't included any information to the doctor that you wouldn't want in your records either. Just remember like you said to sign, and ask them to give you a copy of the papers that you sign as well. You have the right to just say no to a doctor or facility who wants to see your records, even if its a doctor that you have been referred to. Working at a hospital HIPPA sued us last year for 10,000 dollars for having a computer screen used for patient data entry in view of other patients who could be walking by. HIPPA makes sure your info stays private. Don't worry your privacy is well maintained.Health Question & Answer