HIPAA Compliance and Mobile Device Security in Healthcare Settings

This report discusses the critical issues surrounding patient privacy and confidentiality in the context of electronic healthcare records and the increasing use of mobile devices. It highlights the challenges posed by legislation gaps and the erosion of patient trust, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding patient information. The report suggests strategies for healthcare organizations, such as data encryption and comprehensive training programs, to protect patient data. It also explores the use of mobile devices in patient care, noting their potential to enhance physician efficiency and improve patient outcomes. The report advocates for the integration of mobile applications, like Apple Health Records, to provide patients with greater control over their medical information, ensuring privacy and confidentiality while facilitating appropriate treatment and medication adherence. References to relevant research articles are included to support the analysis and recommendations.

Running Head: PATIENT PRIVACY
HIPAA: An Issue of Patient Privacy
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PATIENT PRIVACY 2
Issues related to patients privacy and confidentiality
With the rapid adoption of electronic healthcare record systems, patient’s privacy and
confidentiality have been tampered with. This system brings issues like the legislation gaps.
Legislations like HIPAA and the HITECH Act. This legislation excludes patient from their
health information which is covered by HIPAA which they are not always comfortable with
(Braun, Vance & Alexander, 2015). Lack of patient’s trust is another major issue which is facing
privacy and confidentiality. Lack of patient trust may contribute to adverse health results. This
happens because patients are afraid of disclosing significant information which may have severe
consequences (Martínez-Pérez, De La Torre-Díez & López-Coronado, 2015). A scenario like a
young person who is suffering from sexually transmitted infections and is worried about seeking
medical attention because he/she is afraid of been judged can lead to their health deterioration.
Another scenario which occurs mostly in health sector involves naive healthcare workers sharing
confidential information about patients.
Strategies which safeguard patient information
Organizations can use some strategies to ensure that the patient’s information is
protected. The organization needs to know where it patient’s data is saved, who can have access
to it and what form they are stored in if they are encrypted or not (Ozair, Jamshed, Sharma &
Aggarwal, 2015). An organization leadership should engage in training aimed at ensuring that
information and data are saved safely. Hospitals and other healthcare sectors need to take a
proactive stance when it comes to the protection of patient’s data and information.

PATIENT PRIVACY 3
Describe the use of mobile devices for patient care in organizations
Mobile devices help in enhancing the efficiency of physicians. This happens because the
physician can carry them anywhere and be able to access patient’s data and information any time
they need it to make correct medical decisions which help in the improvement of the patient’s
health. With the use of old technique healthcare professionals spends most of their time keeping
records and thus they do not have enough time to attend patients (Braun, Vance & Alexander,
2015). With the use of electronic health record which are mobile it more accessible to keep the
patient records and physicians can create enough time for patients.
My strategy which I suggest to be added in the healthcare system to protect patient’s
information is the use of mobile applications like apple health records which ensure that patient’s
data and the information is safely stored in the mobile phone (Ozair et al., 2015). A patient who
owns an apple phone can be in a position to access their medical records to ensure that what is
saved there is accurate. Use of mobile applications strategy is an effective way of providing that
privacy and confidentiality of an individual are not disclosed to another party without their
knowledge (Martínez-Pérez, De La Torre-Díez & López-Coronado, 2015). A patient can review
what is expected of them from this records and thus been able to take their medications and
treatments appropriately.

PATIENT PRIVACY 4
References
Braun, C. K., Vance, A., & Alexander, E. C. (2015). Managing Patient Confidentiality Issues in
Rural American Hospitals: Dealing with HIPAA in Central Appalachia. Ethics & Critical
Thinking Journal, 2015(2).
Martínez-Pérez, B., De La Torre-Díez, I., & López-Coronado, M. (2015). Privacy and security in
mobile health apps: a review and recommendations. Journal of medical systems, 39(1),
181.
Ozair, F. F., Jamshed, N., Sharma, A., & Aggarwal, P. (2015). Ethical issues in electronic health
records: a general overview. Perspectives in clinical research, 6(2), 73.