Although numerous privacy and security laws apply to healthcare entities, HIPAA rules and requirements tend to receive the most emphasis?and generate the most angst. The terms HIPAA-compliant vendor, HIPAA cop, and HIPAA disciplinary action are anathema to experienced and serious privacy and information security professionals. HIPAA, as has been noted, represents the floor of requirements intended to protect the privacy and security of patient information. More stringent privacy requirements have existed at the state and national levels for several years before the HIPAA Privacy Rule was implemented (e.g., state medical records laws and requirements). Notably, many organizations implement policies and procedures that are more stringent than that required by HIPAA. Some of this is due to misinformation or misunderstanding of the HIPAA rules.
Q: If someone calls a facility to schedule an appointment for a patient, is it a violation of HIPAA to admit the patient receives care at the practice? For example, the practice where I work often helps victims of domestic abuse.
Mobile devices have changed the way people share and access information in their personal and professional lives. Smartphones and tablets may make it easier and faster for people to communicate, store, and access information, but they present risks if lost, stolen, or hacked. This can be especially challenging in the healthcare industry as it has become common for providers to use various mobile tools, including smartphones, laptops, notebooks, tablets, phablets, personal digital assistants, USB devices, digital cameras, and radiofrequency identification devices, to communicate with colleagues and access applications.
Q: I work at a pediatric practice, and we receive a lot of holiday cards from our patients, many of which feature family photos. We hang them up because the patients love to see themselves displayed in our lobby. We have reached out to a HIPAA security officer at a nearby hospital who told us it is not a HIPAA violation to display holiday cards received from patients. Is this accurate?
