There is a specific way that sensitive patient information is to be handled, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) specifies certain guidelines for this. The HIPAA privacy rules gives the patients the right to have a say in how their medical records can or cannot be accessed and used.

In health care settings, for instance, there is a constant need for the transfer of patient information between employees or departments. All patient information whether written or spoken must be always protected and this transfer of information should be sorely for the purpose of treatment.

Listed below are five main features of the HIPAA privacy rule:

– For treatment purposes, there is always a need to exchange your health information via phone, email, fax, etc. It is of the utmost importance that the healthcare providers take all necessary precautions to safeguard this information during the exchange. The patient’s name and other information must never be written or mentioned openly in any mail or letters.

– If you specifically request some of your health information to be withheld from your family or friends, then the healthcare providers are bound to honor this request.

– In cases where you don’t make any verbal or written request to withhold any medical information from your family or friends, then the health care organization is allowed to share your information with them. However, any information can be shared with friends and family members only for the purpose of treatment.

– The HIPAA privacy rule stipulates that sharing the medical records of deceased patients with their relatives is not allowed. There has to be legal authorization for this sharing to take place. There is, however, another reason when medical information of a deceased patient may be shared with family and that is if another member of the same family suffers the same medical problem.

– People from the police department and law enforcement agencies may also need to look at the patient’s medical records to help in their investigation. In such cases, the officer in-charge of the case is identified and checked before the medical records are shown to him.

Certain healthcare facilities are excused from complying with the HIPAA rules and guidelines. These are healthcare facilities that employ less than ten employees in all. What they are required to do, is keep a written record of all your health information.In everyday situations, the employees are the ones who deal with your health information, and therefore it is very important that they follow all the necessary precautions to make sure that your medical records are not misused.Any misuse of confidential patient records can lead to heavy penalties.

The privacy rules by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act are mainly to prevent any violation of your health records. It is always recommended that the health care providers use the latest software and anti-virus packages. All electronic data must be encrypted and password protected so that your health records are secure at all times.

To learn more, visit our website about your health issues today and bookmark it to share with others!

To learn more, visit our website http://www.hipaaexams.com about your health issues today and bookmark it to share with others!

Author Bio: To learn more, visit our website about your health issues today and bookmark it to share with others!

Category: Advice
Keywords: your health, HIPPA exams