Health Information Patient Health Information

Information privacy and security in healthcare is an issue of growing significance in the U.S. Having taken up the position of office manager in a healthcare organization that is in the process of automating its health processes, I have identified a number of factors that I may have to take into consideration to ensure that the information systems developed are in compliance with the professional standards of practice, facility policy, as well as the various state and federal laws and regulations that govern the confidentiality and privacy of e-health information. These factors include privacy and confidentiality legislation, the benefits of having an effective system of information flow within an organization, the role of health information in reducing abuse and fraud in such processes of billing, standards governing health information, and ways of ensuring compliance with the said standards.

Importance of Computerized Record-Keeping in Healthcare Organizations

Investing in effective health information systems would yield a number of benefits for the organization, including:

Better abilities to detect and control endemic and emerging health problems; as well as to monitor the heath progress of individual patients more effectively

Empowering communities and individuals with accurate health-related information, thereby making them better drivers of quality improvements.

Creating better possibilities for evidence-based health research.

The confidentiality and privacy of patient health information in this age of automation is protected by a series of state and federal laws and regulations.
Privacy and Security Rules under HIPAA: HIPAA was enacted to aid in the streamlining of information transactions and electronic health records system. Its primary purpose was to help covered entities cut down on administrative costs by standardizing healthcare processes. The HIPAA privacy rule governs the disclosure of confidential health information among clearinghouses, medical providers, healthcare plans, and other covered entities. The security rule, on the other hand, requires covered entities to take relevant measures to ensure that they put in place effective administrative and technical safeguards to monitor organizational information access and ensure that patient information…