Health Information Privacy

Importance of privacy of health information: Over the past few years, advancement of technology has brought significant changes in healthcare. Today, the practice of telemedicine and telehealth are easier, cheaper and faster. One person or billion recipients can get the health information, which may include diagnoses, prescriptions or insurance information, on their fingertips by just clicking on computer buttons. As per Rothstein, Health information technology has become increasingly important to the healthcare industry because of its ability to lower costs, improve the efficiency of service delivery, enhance the quality care and increase patient satisfaction (Rothstein 2007; Sykes, Venkatesh & Rai 2011). At the same time, it raises privacy and confidentiality concern and debate in health care. As per Dinitropoulos consumers remain concerned about protecting this highly sensitive personal information. They fear an unauthorized person might see their health information; they might be
As per Canadian nurses association codes of ethics Nurses safeguard the trust of clients that information learned in the context of a professional relationship will share outside the health care team only with the client’s permission or as legally required. As a health care worker it is our ethical and legal responsibility to protect and respect privacy right of our patient health information. Doing so in today’s health environment is very challenging.
As health care workers, we see and hear confidential information every day. Our practice is full of this kind of information. Occasionally, we become so comfortable with patient information that it can be easy to forget how important it is to keep information private. Therefore, it is important for nurses to check the health information act guideline to find opportunities to better protect patient