Final project
2
Milestone 2: Health Regulations and Laws Ramifications
Name of Student
Institution
Course Code
Name of Professor
5th March, 2022
Impact of violation of health regulations and laws regarding technology on the institution's finances.
If these risks are not addressed, the institution may face civil liability for security flaws and HIPAA violations, resulting in hefty financial penalties. Furthermore, the institution may be held accountable for paying the victims in some cases. In addition to compensating any injured patients, the hospital may face extra consequences from regulatory agencies.
A noteworthy example is Pinnacle Health hospital Pennsylvania. This health institution is being held accountable after a patient was given the wrong prescription and a doctor was unable to obtain Vitamin K to prevent infant hemorrhage. Pinnacle Health was an early complainant in a legal lawsuit filed against Pinnacle Health's EHRs during these occasions. Many of these situations are costly, and they produce a lot of bad press for the health institution (Schencker, 2016).
In 2014, New York-Presbyterian Hospital consented to pay $4.8 million in damages for a physician's attempt to disable a personal server on the NYP network that included automatedly secured health-related data. Subsequently, in 2010, Google obtained the personal information of 6,800 patients. Due to breach of data security, the Civil and Human Rights department gathered over fines totaling $25 million, besides the federal and state governments' court expenses and fines. Patients whose data has been compromised may also be granted free credit monitoring and hotline outsourcing. These payouts might total $2 million for each healthcare institution over the course of two years.
"Willful neglect" is a legal term that relates to failing to follow regulations and governmental laws. Fines for willfully violating these restrictions might range between $1,000 and $10,000 per infraction. However, there is a cap on how much the institution must pay.
Impact of violation of health regulations and laws regarding technology on the institution's daily operations.
Infractions that are not addressed quickly might significantly affect everyday undertakings. Data theft, for instance, is a significant issue as medical management becomes more digitized and accessible through mobile apps and laptop computers. Furthermore, if the data is not adequately secured, it can be hacked.
These security breaches, according to an article published by Online Tech, have a substantial influence on operational effectiveness. These security issues can lead to a tarnished reputation, lower output, and a decrease in patient trust (Pham, 2019). Furthermore, if health IT violations are identified, audits and surveys conducted by regulators can be distressing for every person within the medical facility.
The Final Rule, published in the Federal Register, outlines a hospital's reaction to a security incident, necessitating additional resources. For example, within 60 days following the event, victims must be notified of a security breach via priority mail. Furthermore, if more than 500 patients are affected by the breach, the media must be notified.
Legislation and regulations are in place to ensure that patients receive the best and safest treatment available. If standards of health and technology legislation are not followed, patient safety may be jeopardized. Medication administration errors are one complication that can lead to patient mortality. Incorrect coding and billing may result in the revocation of the provider's license.
Impact of violation of health regulations and laws regarding technology on the institution's health information security.
The HITECH Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama, expanded the HIPAA`s range and provided funding for the advancement of health information technology in clinical settings. Under the same rules and regulations that regulate technology, PHI (protected health information) must be kept as secure as possible. Security precautions must be taken to protect the facility’s patient data, and equipment from illegal access or harm. Patients must also be made aware of their privacy rights.
References
Pham, J. S. (2019). The Digital Divide in Vulnerable Communities Affecting Access to e-Health Services (Doctoral dissertation, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE).
Schencker, L. (2016). EHR safety goes to court. Modern healthcare, 46(26-27), 30-32.