Data Management, Security, Legal, and Safety Implications
Protecting the privacy of patients’ information is at the core of the quality objective for nurses and other health care providers. However, technology has made it easy for unauthorized people to access the patient’s data, which amounts to ethical violations (McBride & Tietze, 2016; McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). Although it has become easier to access patient information due to technology, it is inappropriate for the staff to view such data if they are not directly caring for the patient.
Confidentiality of information is necessary. Therefore, access to information should be limited to the care context. For example, only providers who are in the direct care of the patient should have access to confidential information. Hence, the nurse providing care should safeguard the information (NCSBN, 2018). Other care providers will violate the privacy code if they access such information.
The government has implemented policies to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of patient information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) acts are the laws aimed to achieve this objective (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). They protect privacy rights and give protection to individuals concerning health data. The rules guide the collection, transfer, sharing, and use of patients’ data.
As a nursing administrator, I would use the knowledge about information privacy and confidentiality to protect patient data at the hospital. I would use the laws to prevent any violation and promote information sharing at the hospital. The policy enables the leader to work with other nurses and providers to build an ethical health care setting. The approach will help patients to provide relevant information without the risk or fear of unauthorized access.
