Quality Factors: HIPAA Privacy Rule

Quality Factors: HIPAA Privacy Rule
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Quality Factors: HIPAA Privacy Rule
Introduction
HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 includes regulations that seek to ensure patient data protection. HIPAA spells out certain regulations and measures that have to be adhered to by healthcare organizations. These regulations mainly spell out the boundaries or limits on the use as well as the release of patient health records. However, the HIPAA privacy rules have not gone down without their fair share of criticism. On the one hand, there are those who believe that healthcare organizations are currently being more careful while handling patient data. Also, healthcare organizations are spending money to enhance the security of their data repositories both physically and technologically. The above measures are credited to the HIPAA privacy rules that are said to have pushed organizations to adopt these measures. However, there are those who believe that the HIPAA rules are a hindrance to medical research because currently, researchers cannot freely access and use patient data as they did before. Further, others believe that HIPAA rules hinder patient care because it prevents sharing of patient information between healthcare professionals. But, as information continues to increase in value, it has become apparent that there is indeed to secure patient data as this contributes to the provision of safe, quality patient-centered care. Provided herein is an analysis of how HIPAA privacy rules contribute or influence the provision of safe, quality patient-centered care with a focus on technology, communication, collaboration, and shared decision-making.
Technology
Technology changes put more healthcare organizations at risk of violating the HIPAA privacy rule. Even though technology changes enhance healthcare organizations by enhancing the efficiency of the data processing procedures, they also create security loopholes. The developments, especially regarding the processing of patient data, open doors for intruders who could steal or alter patient data. With identity theft cases rising, reports of intrusion into healthcare organizations’ data repositories are received with panic and anxiety. Quite easily, a patient could be denied service at a healthcare facility because an intruder stole their identity. Altering patient data is also dangerous and could impact the healthcare of patients. If, for example, a patient is taken ill and is treated for the wrong condition, the results would be quite catastrophic. So, in as much as technology changes are enhancing the capabilities of healthcare organizations, they are also increasing the chances of intruders targeting healthcare organizations. In the end, many healthcare organizations end up failing to adhere to the HIPAA privacy rule. Collier (2021) reported an incident where hackers posted detailed records of patients to the dark web. Such incidents have been on the rise, with the FBI among federal agencies issuing warnings about new waves of coordinated attacks targeting healthcare organizations and providers (Turton, 2020). The cost of these attacks continues to rise with each passin...