1. Activity 1.3.2: Confidentiality
Nina 6th Hour

2. Medical Confidentiality
Means that health care providers like nurses and doctors have to keep a patient’s personal heath information private unless the patient gives the health care provider the ok to release the information

3. HIPPA Law
Law that gave standards for the protections of an individual’s personal health information.
The privacy rule regulates how medical professionals and others use the health information
This is called the Protected health Information (PHI)

4. What Is Protected?
Health information that you can identify the individual with is to be kept secret.
The information that is to be kept secret is
Individual's name, address, birthday, social security number, etc.
Past, present, or future physical or mental health or conditions.
Health care services provided to the patient
Past, present, or future payment for health care services

5. How can professionals maintain confidentiality
The health care providers like doctors, nurses, and many others have to take as many precautions to keep their patient’s health information confidential
Ways they can keep the information locked up are:
They can’t talk about their patient with any information that can identify the person, like their name, and can only talk to others who are working with the same patient with that information.
Records of the patient can not be left out in the open for people to read
Have to avoid being heard when talking about a patient and limit the amount of information that is shared
Can give information to a family member only if the patient is there
They are allowed to contact the individual or family member through phone and mail with patient consent

6. When Information can be shared
Health care providers can share information only if they go by these guidelines.
Information the patient needs for the payment
Giving information to specific agencies if there is a problem like a disease, preventing child abuse, or a public threat.
The situation complies to the workmen's compensation laws
When in a court case or to law enforcement agencies for them to locate anyone
To a legal guardian if the patient is unable to make medical decisions or is underage.
To provide relief in a natural disaster event
To help medical examiners or coroners to help them determine the cause of death and identify the deceased person.