Protected health information (PHI) refers to private and confidential information that contains patient data. Such data comprise of patient’s medical history, demographics, test results, and insurance information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that was established to protect confidential and sensitive health care information for individual patients such that no other person can access the patient data without their consent. Consequently, the HIPAA security rule was established to safeguard and protect sensitive and confidential patient data stored in electronic format (Cohen et al., 2018). Such rules include the prohibition of leaving computer screens open containing patients’ information by healthcare workers when leaving the workstation. Healthcare workers are also prohibited from sharing social media posts that may comprise information regarding confidential patient data. Healthcare personnel who violate the PHI laws and regulations are liable to consequences such as fines, termination of duty or licenses, or even imprisonment. The fines for HIPAA violations range from $50,000 – $250,000.
Interprofessional collaboration within the healthcare setting is mandatory for effective care outcomes. Patients will always visit more than one healthcare worker when seeking healthcare services. As such, their confidential information will be accessible to different healthcare personnel. All these professionals are required to observe HIPAA laws in protecting sensitive and confidential patient information. However, such sensitive information can best safeguard with the appropriate adoption of interdisciplinary collaboration. This way team members will be able to exhibit effective communication with a shared understanding of the mutual respect for patient information enhance better use of social media, without exposing patient information and proper use of computers containing patient information (Sittig, Belmont, & Singh, 2018). Staff members from different departments can also exhibit proper articulation of skills concerning protecting confidential patient health informatics. Faculties can also help in providing interdisciplinary opportunities, support, and feedback regarding the protection of the patient’s right to confidentiality and proper use of social media both in the healthcare setting and even at home (Billingsley, 2019). Lastly, interdisciplinary collaboration enhances the use of simulation-based training in line with real-world situations in protecting patient health information from unauthorized personnel.
The use of social media is quite helpful in sharing the right information between members of different healthcare departments, but at the same time poses a big risk in violating the HIPAA laws. However, several approaches can be used to mitigate such risks and uphold the patient’s right to privacy. For instance, healthcare professionals are advised to avoid the use of social media while still in the hospital setting (Hilty et al., 2018). However, in cases where one must use social media to send protected patient information, health care staff are advised to review their privacy settings to be sure that the patient information is protected. Consequently, appropriate professional boundaries must be encouraged when one is involved in interacting with a patient on an online platform to ensure confidentiality and protection of patient-sensitive information. lastly, different healthcare departments are advised to adopt frequent staff training and education on better skills on the proper use of social media and the importance of observing the HIPAA regulation on protective patients’ sensitive electronic information, to avoid consequences imposed on those who violate such rules.
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Hilty, D. M., Zalpuri, I., Stubbe, D., Snowdy, C. E., Shoemaker, E. Z., Myint, M. T., Joshi, S. V., … SpringerLink (Online service). (2018). Social Media/Networking and Psychiatric Education: Competencies, Teaching Methods, and Implications. (Journal of technology in behavioral science.) Order this paper