Violating Patient Privacy

When it comes to patients and their care, privacy is an extremely important factor. As technology progresses and the use of electronic records is more prevalent, the risk of privacy steadily increases. This is because there is more of an ability to break into secure systems. The technology used for healthcare has gone from paper to putting information into computerized programs and although the risk factor for a breach is there, the use of technology seems to be a necessity in the healthcare system now.

In keeping with the Patient's Bill of Rights, patient privacy ensures that not only does the patient have the right to keep any information about their health to themselves, but they have the security of knowing that they will remain anonymous. Anonymity is important when dealing with a patient’s data because this way patients don’t have to worry about other doctors or nurses they’re not comfortable with knowing their information. This allows for a more comfortable setting in which a patient can feel confident in knowing they are protected. Unfortunately though, because the technology being used is not as secure as something that is governmentally confidential, the risk is higher. That is to say, if someone were to really want certain information about someone, they could certainly find it. The American Nurses Association (2013) reinforces this point stating, “Advances in technology, including computerized medical databases, the Internet, and telehealth, have opened the door to potential, unintentional breaches of private/confidential health information.” As stated the breaches could absolutely be unintentional but there is more of a risk for an intentional breach as well.

Although the difference between keeping everything written in files and entering data into a computer seems highly different, the ability to break into the client's file is similar. The only difference is that if the breach were to happen technologically, it can be worldwide and spread like wildfire because of the internet. A positive aspect of using paper for data entry is that if there were a breach, there is one source where it can come from. With the use of technology, there are millions of ways to constantly spread patient information on the internet. Ultimately though, society is in a technological era and it has become a staple in the workforce. The quality of patient care must stay consistent if patient privacy is to flourish in the technological world. This is re-enforced when SoRelle (2013) stated: “health care providers must make reasonable efforts to limit the use or disclosure of health information to the minimum amount necessary to accomplish the purpose of …maintaining normal health care operations” (p.40). As long as patient privacy is secured, technology has proven to be a much more economically efficient system, saving money and time for both the patient and the health care system.

References

Privacy and Confidentiality. (n.d.). Privacy and confidentiality. November 29, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Policy-Advocacy/Positions-and-Resolutions/ANAPositionStatements/Position-Statements-Alphabetically/PrivacyandConfidentiality.html

SoRelle, R. (2003). Maintaining patient privacy: A tough task in the ED. Emergency Medicine News, 25(3), 40-41.