Question

You work for a health care organization that frequently needs to share information with other providers. Your organization has a very important relationship with a diagnostics center in particular where you frequently need to share patient information such as lab results, X-rays, and other diagnostic information. You have been asked to review your company's protocols on sharing and receiving patient information for outside providers to ensure that your organization is in compliance with the latest standards and regulations. Include state and local laws that apply to sharing of patient information.

HIPAA and privacy disclosures to patients should also be discussed.

Answer 1

Organizations have signed the protocols for the safe and secure handling of patient information. According to Law, the organization has set clear guidelines for the sharing of information, to improve the client service, and to protect the information in a confidential manner. The Organization also met required legal requirements of individual's rights, standards and procedures. The information is shared with other Organizations through Designated sharing Officers.

The Organization has followed the Principles of Data Protection Act. The usual sharing of information to and from the laboratory is done as a routine service under the review of Designated Officers. These made under aware of the clients. In case of Non-routine sharing of information is done after authorized by the Designating Officer. Disclosure of specific information such as Sexually transmitted disease, Substance abuse, psychological problems, custody case report should be shared through the approval of primary physician after obtaining a proper consent from the patient.

According to HIPPA rule, The Organization has the Electronically Protected Health Information System to safeguard the patient information. The Organization has accessed with password protection system to avoid the misuse of information through the third person. All Professionals are trained to protect the sensitive information of the patient. According to HIPPA requirements, the organization has been complied with 'Healthcare Information Assurance Policy'.

The Organization also conducting ongoing education program on policies and procedures of Health Information Exchange(HIE). The health professionals possess positive collaboration with Health Information Management. The Organization has the responsibility for the security issues and to enable solutions to the problem through the Designated Officers. The Organization also review the protocol every 2 years once.