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National Health Information Privacy and Security Week

The Dakota State University chapter of the America Health Information Management Association is marking National Health Information Privacy and Security Week is April 11-17. Sponsored by the AHIMA, the week is designed to raise awareness among the public about the importance of personal health information privacy and security. In April 2003 a federal privacy law often referred to as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted that requires healthcare providers to offer a copy of their Notice of Privacy Practices to patients. Patients are asked to read through the policy and sign a copy for the healthcare facility’s files.

The Notice of Privacy Practices outlines the patient’s healthcare privacy rights. For instance, a patient must specifically ask not to be listed in a hospital’s directory if they do not want it known that they are a patient in that hospital. Hospitals are also allowed to disclose that information to others, including members of the clergy, unless the patient has specifically objected. Doctors can share information with other doctors without your consent if there is reason to believe you will receive care at the alternate healthcare facility and those doctors can refuse access to patients’ medical records if they feel the patient or someone else could be endangered if that information is released.

For more information on personal health information privacy rights visit www.myphr.com