Q Our authorization form for release of information requires patients to sign separate lines to authorize release of sensitive information, such as sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, and genetic information. We understand that very few other covered entities do this. Is this a legal requirement? And if so, may we change our form to state that all information will be released unless the patient indicates otherwise?
Business associates (BA) may not be the target of upcoming HIPAA compliance audits, but failure to comply with the regulations could be very costly, says Tom Dumez, CHP.
Q Is it permissible to allow hospital employees who have been granted access to PHI through the workforce clearance procedure to access their own PHI through the electronic medical record (EMR) without first signing a release or authorization?
HITECH was the trigger for a global HIPAA policy review at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System (North Shore-LIJ) in Great Neck, NY. This was no easy task; North Shore-LIJ includes a medical school, a research institute, 15 hospitals, more than 200 ambulatory care centers, over 5,600 beds, and a total workforce of more than 42,000 employees.
Social networking and its related communication vehicles pose significant privacy and security challenges for healthcare organizations, says Chris Apgar, CISSP.
