While your healthcare organization awaits a breach notification final rule from HHS, there are some practical steps you can take to prepare should you need to notify patients of a privacy breach.
Almost every digital copier built since 2002 contains a hard drive, like the ones on computers, storing an image of every document copied, scanned, or e-mailed by the machine. This advanced technology has opened a dangerous hole in data security. Used copy machines, which are often resold, can contain lots of sensitive information, including PHI.
One of the more talked-about initiatives in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the creation of accountable care organizations (ACO) and the global payment pilot projects.
Care providers accept the general principle that patients have the right to direct their own care, but what if the patient refuses every discharge option you provide and wants to stay in inpatient care indefinitely?
