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

What defines the legal system in healthcare?

A set of laws, institutions, and processes used to create rules and resolve disputes relating to healthcare.

What is the role of constitutions in healthcare law?

They establish rights and limits on government action regarding healthcare.

What are statutes in the context of healthcare?

Laws passed by legislatures, including federal health privacy laws.

Define regulations in healthcare.

Detailed rules created by agencies to implement statutes, crucial for compliance.

What does case law refer to?

Court decisions that interpret statutes/regulations and set legal precedents.

Differentiate between civil law and criminal law.

Civil law deals with disputes between parties, while criminal law is prosecution by the government for offenses against the public.

What is professional negligence (malpractice)?

Negligence by a professional in the course of performing their professional duties.

What is the plaintiff in a legal case?

The person or entity bringing a civil lawsuit.

What type of law includes rules enforced by government agencies?

Administrative law.

What is the minimum necessary principle in healthcare information?

Limit just enough information to what is reasonably needed to accomplish the purpose.

Define personal health information (PHI).

Information relating to an individual’s health, healthcare, or payment for healthcare that can be linked to that individual.

What are the three key questions in health information rules?

Who is allowed to access information? Why are they accessing it? What information are they allowed to access, use, or disclose?

What distinguishes confidential information from non-confidential information?

Confidential information is protected from unauthorized disclosure, whereas non-confidential does not identify a patient or is publicly available.

What is the authorized access approach in healthcare?

Ensuring access to health information aligns with rules, patient authorization, or legitimate need under the law.

What is an example of unauthorized access in healthcare?

A staff member accessing a neighbor's medical record without a legitimate reason.

What must be documented during a health information request?

Details of the request, verification steps, decision made, and specific information released.

What is data integrity?

Data remaining accurate, complete, and unaltered except through authorized changes.

What does data validity refer to?

Data being correct and meaningful within context and following appropriate standards.

Define administrative safeguards in healthcare.

Policies and procedures that dictate how data is handled to maintain security and integrity.

What are physical safeguards?

Protective measures for buildings, devices, and paper records against unauthorized access.

What do technical safeguards in healthcare entail?

Technology-based controls that secure electronic information, like encryption and access logs.

What is a common misconception regarding privacy and integrity in data?

That cybersecurity is only about preventing hacking, ignoring everyday operational issues.

What should be included in the process of handling data requests?

Identification of the asset, recognition of the threats, and choosing layered safeguards.

What commonly goes wrong in health information management?

Shared accounts leading to decreased accountability, and failing to document or prioritize requests.

What is the key to maintaining validity in health information?

Ensuring processes reduce the risk of incorrect or incomplete data being recorded.