Book- Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health information Management
Page 189
Case Study
You are the director of the health information services at a medium-size health-care facility providing general, emergency, and pediatric care. Because of downsizing and consolidation of managerial functions, you are also responsible for staff education in your facility. Discuss how you would structure and present an inservice program to staff members of various department that addresses confidentiality policies and procedures of your facility, and the legal bases underlying these polices and procedures.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In this scenario, as the director of health information services, I am responsible for designing an inservice program that covers confidentiality policies and procedures in our facility and the legal basis underlying them. The inservice program will be presented to staff members across various departments. The program aims to ensure that all staff comply with privacy regulations and understand their obligations when handling patient information.
Answer:
The inservice program will be structured in a way that promotes active learning. The program will utilize various teaching methods, including interactive sessions, lectures, and group discussions. These methods will ensure that participants are engaged in the learning process and retain the information presented.
During the program, I will start by providing an overview of the facility’s privacy policies and procedures and the legal basis that underpins them. I will discuss how patient confidentiality is protected under State and Federal laws. I will provide examples of the types of information that are classified as confidential and discuss how staff members can ensure that they adhere to the regulations.
Additionally, the inservice program will cover the consequences of a privacy breach. This will include sanctions that can be imposed by the facility, as well as legal repercussions, which may result in litigation and fines. A discussion will also be held on the steps that need to be taken if a breach occurs, including reporting procedures.
Finally, the program will include scenarios to help illustrate the expected behavior from staff members. These scenarios will cover various situations that staff members may encounter when handling patient information. They will be guided to make decisions based on the facility’s policies and procedures.
In conclusion, structuring and presenting an inservice program that addresses confidentiality policies and procedures can be achieved through interactive sessions, lectures, group discussions, and scenarios. These methods will ensure that participants are engaged in the learning process, understand the regulations and obligations surrounding confidentiality, and know what actions need to be taken to ensure compliance.