The Importance of Keeping Protected Health Information Confidential
Our health information is as sensitive as it is personal. As such, it is essential that healthcare practitioners keep confidential any information they receive from their patients. Protected Health Information (PHI) comprises of demographic data, health status, medical history, laboratory test results, insurance information, and more. Unfortunately, with the rise of advanced technology, the chances of PHI breaches have also increased. That’s why it’s crucial to understand why keeping PHI confidential remains of utmost importance.
Why is PHI Confidentiality Important?
1. Legal Obligation – Medical practitioners are legally obliged to safeguard patient’s PHI under the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” (HIPAA) legislation. Furthermore, the Privacy Rule obligates a PHI safeguard process that mandates penalties for noncompliant practices such as fines and loss of license.
2. Personal Privacy – Patients trust medical personnel to secure their private health information. Confidentiality assures patients that personal information will not fall into the wrong hands, be exploited, or cause harm to their reputation.
3. Integral to Effective Health Management – Physicians need to maintain current and comprehensive patient health information to provide accurate diagnoses and treatment. Lack of access to this information puts the patient at risk and can impede essential medical decisions.
4. Preventing Medical-Identity Theft – With the increasing instances of digitalization and hacking, PHI breaches have become more frequent. Protecting confidential information helps minimize the chances of identity theft and associated adverse consequences.
5. Business Continuity – Health care providers need to have long-term profitability, which is vastly affected by the loss of customer confidence in confidentiality breaches. Establishing privacy practices promotes customer trust, smooth business operations, and longevity.
Examples of PHI Breaches
1. In 2011, a data breach at a hospital resulted in the leaking of PHI of more than 4.9 million patients. The breach involved unauthorized access to the hospital’s electronic health record systems by cybercriminals, making it one of the most significant medical data breaches in U.S. history.
2. In December 2020, a Florida rehabilitation facility’s systems got an “invoice-themed” phishing email that contained ransomware. The attack impacted the assurance of electronic health records (EHRs) and disrupted operations, resulting in data leakage.
Conclusion
Protecting confidential information is critical in the healthcare industry for patients and medical practitioners. Without comprehensive privacy policies, the consequences of lost or leaked information can be detrimental. Medical professionals must ensure the strict enforcement of privacy policies and use effective security solutions to safeguard PHI. Protecting the information’s confidentiality can significantly improve patient trust, health outcomes, and long-term business continuity.
