Running Head: HIPAA m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
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4-2 Journal: HIPAA
HIM422
SNHU
HIPAA m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
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• The integration of social media, telehealth and mobile technologies in the health care
setting has increased the importance of policies relating to how these technology-based
elements are integrated into health care services. Since these digital elements increase
cybersecurity risks, it is of paramount importance to comply with relevant policies and
regulations that can help to minimize or mitigate the risks that arise in the uncertain cyber
domain. According to Kruse and Williams, health policies can play an instrumental role in
influencing how technology is used to reach patients and increase the accessibility of care
services (Kruse et al., 2021). Such policies can also play a critical role in making sure that the
use of innovative digital technologies does not increase the risk relating to violation of
sensitive patient health information. The policies can serve as guidance and allow health care
professionals and practitioners to responsibly use social media platforms, mobile technologies,
etc. so that value can be created for patients and their medical data will be managed in a safe
and secure manner by health care entities.
• In the digitalized era, when the issue relating to data breaches in the health care
domain is on the rise, the role of HIPAA privacy and security rules is of extreme importance.
The HIPAA Privacy rule fundamentally establishes standards for safeguarding patients’
medical records along with other sensitive personal health information (PHI). It highlights the
basic rights of patients in relation to their confidential information that is available with health
care entities (Summary of the HIPAA security rule. HHS.gov, 2021). Organizations have the
responsibility to treat sensitive and confidential patient information with utmost care and
caution so that the privacy of patients will not get compromised. HIPAA Privacy rule is vital
since it addresses how patient information is handled and managed. These rules are of high
value since they empower patients to have better control over their PHI.
HIPAA m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m 3
• The Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) is a HIPAA-mandated notice that specific
organizations need to give to patients as well as research subjects that captures how the
entities may utilize or disclose their personal health information (PHI). This notice also
informs the patients about the legal rights that they have in relation to their PHI. Some of the
key elements that have been integrated into the notice include treatment, alternatives to
treatments, appointment reminders, treatment as well as health care operations, etc. (Notice of
privacy practices (NPP). Electronic Frontier Foundation, 2021). The fundamental purpose of
NPP is to make sure that covered health care entities can improve the patient experience as
well as comprehension by providing a clear, user-friendly explanation relating to their PHI-
related rights and privacy practices relating to health plan and health care service providers.
The NPP plays an instrumental role in influencing how patient information is used for the
purpose of treatment, payment as well as conducting health care operations. The proper
comprehension, as well as adherence to Notice of Privacy Practices, is vital for entities that
operate in the delicate and dynamic health care setting since it can impact the level of
empowerment of patients who avail health care services.
HIPAA m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m
m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m m 4
References
Kruse, C. S., Williams, K., Bohls, J., & Shamsi, W. (2021). Telemedicine and health policy: a
systematic review. Health Policy and Technology, 10(1), 209-229.
Summary of the HIPAA security rule. HHS.gov. (2021, June 28). Retrieved May 28, 2022,
from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/laws-regulations/index.html
Notice of privacy practices (NPP). Electronic Frontier Foundation. (2021). Retrieved May 28,
2022, from https://www.eff.org/glossary/notice-privacy-practices-
npp#:~:text=HIPAA%2Dmandated%20notice%20that%20covered,their%20legal%20right
s%20regarding%20PHI.
