Issues Evident in Medical Emergencies - Research Paper Example

EHR and Privacy in the World of Data over Exposure Introduction Issues evident in medical emergencies create the platforms for establishment of electronic information to the persons on various signs and symptoms of diseases, as well as, treatment procedures. Consequently, the evolving technological factors adopted in all sectors of the world industries present the challenge to the health sector to adopt such technological advancements. These advancements are important in the successful delivery and management of health management procedures. However, with the increasing challenges to the management of the technological platforms, the stakeholders within the health sector face a myriad of factors to worry about pertaining to the security of their personal information (Skolnik, 2011). The areas of consideration bring the aspects of exposure for the patient data; hence, raising concern for the procedures of managing the electronic health records, as implemented in the various health factions in the world. Technical management affects the need to evaluate strategic procedures for successful management of the health platforms (Amatayakul & Medical Group Management Association, 2010). This paper explores the strategies within the health systems to manage and facilitate data privacy within the electronic health record system. Background information The procedures of access and storage of the patient data records from the electronic health records systems indicate that by over 80% of the world physicians and hospitals possess the EHR systems (Vossler, 2013). Additionally, with the blinking-rate of technological advancement, the concerns over the advancements also cause considerations on the aspects of the benefits and risks of the information systems. Notably, technology with its positive impacts also presents significant risks to the privacy of the data for the patients. The non-wavering arguments into the elemental subject present the various sources of violations regarding the management of information. The responsible elements in the context of the electronic health records include factors of considerations such as high porosity within the healthcare enterprise network (Vossler, 2013). The healthcare sector contains a porous network, which invites the attacks and trusted insiders to pose the threats into the health record systems. Secondly, the element of low-level factor of ethics within the top executives causes the process of managing the electronic record systems difficult. For instance, within the compliance expectations as designated by the HIPAA, the top leadership as well as the employees, needs to engage in proofing the security of the clients. However, due to low ethics among the professionals in the working systems, they fail to observe the compliance expectations; hence, the considerable threats into the privacy of patient data. Lastly, the factor of monitoring of the health record systems also affects the developments within securing of the data of the patients (Vossler, 2013). Notably, most institutions implementing the electronic health records systems lack adequate structures for monitoring the information within the record systems. Moreover, the compliance policy regards aspects of fraud and online harassment by attackers to the data as a direct result of poor monitoring of the health systems. Thus, the institutions implementing the electronic health systems need to implement the network monitoring systems for the success of the health systems. Strategies to address data protection in EHR’s The notable structural areas for consideration in evaluating the strategies available in the management of health information systems entail the concerns over the access, availability, security, privacy, and compliance as a whole network of the system. The elemental consideration in the strategies and their effectiveness relies extensively on the institution implementing the health records systems. The comprehensive legacy refreshment of the data management should meet the structural needs of the various sections as mentioned. The factor of access presents the entire perspective of the other elements such as privacy, security, and compliance. Thus, these three sections formulate the most and highly sensitive areas for consideration in managing the client data effectively. The strategies implemented across the globe in the health care sector focus on the procedures of information technology to manage the data of patients (Aspen Law & Business (Firm) & Aspen Publishers, 2010). For instance, the elemental factor for compliance has several establishments, which seek to manage effectively the data systems within the healthcare systems. For instance, the various compliance bodies implemented include the HIPAA, PPACA, CFR and EMTALA among others. Further, ensuring the security and privacy of client data, the electronic health systems identify the categories warranting high degree of security in the systems. Through the identification of these categories, the electronic data management systems improve the privacy for the data of the patients (Ismail & Yong, 2013). The areas identified as crucial in ensuring privacy and security includes the patient type and identity, which are essential for delivery of quality health care and patient safety. Second is the diagnosis or condition of a patient as confidentiality is key in this section. Some diagnosis of patients such as HIV/AIDS or mental conditions requires high-degree of confidentiality. Additionally, the category of testing consent and custody of the data of the client also requires successful privacy in managing the information. Lastly, research, as processes of data collection and reporting in supporting clinical trials and investigations, also requires strategic security procedures (Skolnik, 2011). Thus, with these areas identified as key in managing the information security within the healthcare systems, the strategies to manage the electronic information present successful privacy to the patient data. Another strategic section of strategy establishment in data protection is the security. Security within the electronic health records entails the establishment of procedures for successfully sharing and storing of data to the satisfaction of the compliance expectations. The establishment of the electronic systems in managing the processes of sharing data needs to incorporate the elements of consideration of the client consent to ensure successful storage and sharing of data. This will enhance the privacy of the data of patients within the confines of the health systems. In sharing the data, the security aspect needs to comprehend the reasons regarding the sharing of the data, when and how much to share (Skolnik, 2011). Thus, this as a strategic approach will protect the processes of the system management and ensure privacy of the client’s data. Moreover, in privacy factors, the areas incorporated include the storage system, the research processes, and access of data of the patient. In these sections, the electronic health management systems need to facilitate the client with relevant information regarding their participation in the processes of research. Thus, using their data in the research process, for instance, should have aspects of ethical considerations such as consent of patient and anonymity when required, as well as, consideration for vulnerable clients. Thus, these considerations facilitated within the electronic health records management systems facilitate successful privacy to the data of the clients within the health care systems (Pascuzzi, Izzo & Macilotti, 2013). Moreover, the elemental factor of the role instituted by the leadership in the health systems also encourages the successful management of the client records; hence, ensuring privacy of the client data within the electronic health records systems. HIPAA Advisory and Health Care Compliance Association The HIPAA sets the privacy rules for the procedures of handling medical information. This sets the minimum standards for the privacy aspect of handling patient data (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2013). Thus, in its effect, all states must abide by the standards. It facilitates aspects of accounting for the healthcare developments, filing complaint and presenting requests for confidential communication among others. It also implements factors of privacy for the staff and training on the same for the successful management of the patient data in the healthcare systems. Thus, these considerations as established by the HIPAA advisory, indicate the management strategies of patient data privacy successfully. This entity presents the professionals with knowledge and expertise on compliance processes. Thus, from this elemental consideration, the Health Care Compliance Association facilitates the healthcare settings with the professional development to manage the electronic record systems successfully, to the advantage of the health facility (Pascuzzi, Izzo & Macilotti, 2013). Further, as the professionals adhere to the compliance expectations, this assures the privacy of the patient data accordingly; hence, the success of the strategies to secure the patient data privacy. Conclusion In view of the key issues arising in the process of ensuring patient data security, the various concerned elements establish strategic approaches to manage the privacy and security of the data. The electronic health records facilitate remarkable benefits to the health delivery processes (Lehmann, 2011). Additionally, the systems also engage the risks of exposure as presented by the electronic record systems. Thus, the strategies to engage these risks remain successful in their endeavor to secure the privacy of patient data. The strategies implemented and the compliance aspects in action are successful in managing the patient data privacy in the EHR’s. References Amatayakul, M., & Medical Group Management Association. (2010). Electronic health records: Transforming your medical practice. Englewood, CO: MGMA. Aspen Law & Business (Firm), & Aspen Publishers. (2010). HIPAA compliance handbook. Gaithersburg, Md: Aspen Law & Business. Ismail, N., & Yong, C. E. L. (2013). Beyond data protection: Strategic case studies and practical guidance. Berlin: Springer. Lehmann, H. P. (2011). Aspects of electronic health record systems. New York: Springer. Pascuzzi, G., Izzo, U., & Macilotti, M. (2013). Comparative issues in the governance of research biobanks: Property, privacy, intellectual property, and the role of technology. Berlin: Springer. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. (2013). Fact Sheet 8a: HIPAA Basics: Medical Privacy in the Electronic Age .Retrieved from https://www.privacyrights.org/HIPAA-basics-medical- privacy-electronic-age Skolnik, N. S. (2011). Electronic medical records: A practical guide for primary care. New York: Humana. Vossler L, (2013). patients feeling exposed: privacy risks of storing medical records on “the cloud”. Retrieved from http://www.lawschoolblog.org/patients-feeling-exposed-privacy- risks-of-storing-medical-records-on-the-cloud/ Read More