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Case Study — Privacy, Security, and Quality Standards in Informatics Discussion Board Post
Tonya Wright
School of Business, Liberty University
Author Note
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
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Case Study — Privacy, Security, and Quality Standards in Informatics Discussion Board
Post
The shift from a paper-based health information system to a computerized and digitized
one brings forth concerning issues related to safety, privacy, and ethics (Ben-Assuli, 2015,
p.291). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) initially established
patient privacy standards, and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical
Health Act (HITECH) enhanced and extended these provisions to encompass digital data. On
March 26, 2013, the Omnibus Final Rule associated with the HITECH Act took effect,
mandating compliance by September 2013. The alterations encompassed heightened measures to
safeguard patient privacy, additional provisions reinforcing individual patient rights, and
bolstered enforcement capabilities for the government to uphold the law (Liberty University,
2021, p. 156). “Two popular health IT (HIT) products are the electronic health record (EHR) and
health information exchange (HIE) networks. The introduction of these tools is believed to
improve care, but has also raised some important questions and legal and privacy issues” (Ben-
Assuli, 2015, p. 287). The ongoing focus on patient information privacy necessitates continued
efforts to guarantee patients' access to their data while maintaining its confidentiality.
Virginia is one of the 42 states and United States territories that participated in the Health
Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC). Dimick (2009, p.21) mentions:
Before HISPC, many states had not begun any work on interoperable HIE and did not
understand the extent of the barriers, Dimitropoulos says. The universal focus was on
health IT adoption—the hardware and software of information exchange—and not the
laws, policies, and procedures that govern the exchange itself. HISPC changed that
thinking, she says.
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“The VA’s HISPC is a state and federally sponsored, multi-year, public-private organization
whose primary mission is to develop tools, services and support to resolve privacy and security
interoperability issues between health information organizations in the Commonwealth”
(Department of Medical Assistance Services, 2009, p. 3). Governor Mark Warner initiated a task
force on Information Technology in Health Care in 2005, resulting in the formation of the Health
Information Technology Advisory Commission (HITAC) (Department of Medical Assistance
Services, 2009, p. 2). Subsequently, in 2009, Governor Kaine issued Executive Order 95,
establishing the Health Information Technology Commission (HITC). Chaired by the Secretary
of Health and Human Resources, this commission oversees Virginia's participation in HISPC
(Department of Medical Assistance Services, 2009, pg. 2).
“HISPC has brought the US one step closer to a nationwide health information network,
Dimitropoulos believes. “HISPC has broken a lot of ground and raised awareness in a big way,”
she says” (Dimick, 2009, p. 25). The HISPC partnership is crucial as it is imperative to ensure
the confidentiality and security of patient data. Dimick (2009, p. 25) emphasizes the significance
of this collaboration with the following statement: “People die because [providers] don’t have
information—it is just a fact,” she says. “People die, so I would like to see that stopped. I want
[providers] to have the records they need and not have to worry about breaking the law or
making sure the patient is happy with their decision to get those records.”
Ecclesiastes 7:12 states, “For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it” (The Holy
Bible, English Standard Version, 2001). This biblical passage underscores the value of
safeguarding wisdom, prompting the question of why patient data, with its significance, shouldn't
receive comparable protection. As Christians involved in healthcare administration, it is our
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responsibility to take every measure necessary to safeguard our patients and their protected
health information.
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References
Ben-Assuli, O. (2015). Electronic health records, adoption, quality of care, legal and privacy
issues and their implementation in emergency departments. Health Policy
(Amsterdam), 119(3), 287-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2014.11.014
Department of Medical Assistance Services. (2009). REPORT OF THE VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES Report on Programs and
Incentives to Encourage E-Prescribing by Medicaid Providers. chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://rga.lis.virginia.gov/Published/2009/H
D15/PDF
Dimick, C. (2009). Complicated Game: HISPC Privacy and Security Collaborative Hands off
Three Years of Work. Journal of AHIMA 80, 20-25. https://library.ahima.org/doc?oid=90638
Liberty University. (2021). Health informatics: BUSI/INFO 505. McGraw-Hill Education.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2001). https://esv.literalword.com
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