Confidentiality, Privacy, and Security in Dental Health Information Management (Outcome 6.2)

Legal System

The set of rules, institutions, and processes a society uses to regulate behavior and resolve disputes.

Confidentiality

An obligation to protect patient information from unauthorized disclosure.

Privacy

The right of individuals to control access to their personal health information.

Statute Law

Laws passed by a legislature or parliament that dictate rules and regulations.

Common Law

Law developed by judges through court decisions, establishing precedents.

Regulations

Detailed rules made under authority of statutes that govern specific conduct.

Duty of Care

An obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of patients while providing services.

Liability

Legal responsibility for harm or wrongdoing that occurs as a result of an act.

Negligence

The failure to use reasonable care, resulting in harm to another party.

Malpractice

Professional negligence where a professional fails to meet the accepted standard of care.

Vicarious Liability

Legal responsibility of an organization for the negligent actions of its employees.

Authorized Access

The permission to view patient health information based on role, purpose, and policy.

Personal Health Information (PHI)

Information that relates to a person's health, healthcare, or payment for healthcare, and can identify the person.

Minimum Necessary Principle

A guideline that states only the least amount of information necessary should be shared.

Administrative Law

Law that governs the activities of regulatory agencies and compliance bodies.

Technical Safeguards

Technology controls in information systems that protect data integrity and confidentiality.

Physical Safeguards

Measures taken to protect the physical environment where patient information is handled.

Audit Trail

A record that traces system activity, used for detecting and investigating unauthorized access.

Data Quality Monitoring

An ongoing process that checks the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data.

Role-Based Access

A security mechanism that restricts system access to authorized users based on their role.

Healthcare Compliance

Adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies regarding patient information.

Incident Report

A documented account of an event that occurred, particularly those involving privacy breaches.

Ethical Standards

Guidelines that dictate acceptable conduct for professionals in their practice.

Security Breach

An incident where unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information occurs.

Patient Authorization

Consent provided by a patient for their personal health information to be accessed or shared.

Confidential Information

Information shared in a trusted context that should not be disclosed without permission.

Regulatory Requirements

Rules set by law that specify the minimum actions required for compliance.