Patient privacy

From Clinfowiki
Jump to: navigation, search

Patient privacy refers to the right of patients to determine when, how and to what extent their health information is shared with others. It involves maintaining confidentiality and sharing identifying data, known as protected health information (PHI), only with healthcare providers and related professionals who need it in order to care for the patient.

Patient privacy is protected nationally through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA is enforced by the Office of Civil Rights, and it protects all aspects of protected health information, including: demographics, treatment, billing information, insurance, and any other medical information discussed between the patient and all clinicians involved in the patient's healthcare. [1]


References

  1. HHS.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/index.html