Took another position in the supply chain for a pharmaceutical company with
clinical trials in progress for new treatments for cystic fibrosis. It was
interesting to learn about the different trial phases and prepare for filing with
the FDA in the United States, EMA in Europe, and PMDA in Japan.
Unfortunately, in October 2020, our clinical trial phase III ended with no
positive results, and most of the company was laid off during the COVID
pandemic. My nursing program was at a standstill because hospitals were
overwhelmed and did not want students on the floor trying to train. I always
regretted not going into health information technology instead of my MHA,
and after some research, I ended up at SNHU. I currently work for a healthcare
technology company remotely. I analyze eprescribe data from health
entities and help them identify different trends and pharmacies that the entity
could contract with for the 340B drug program. I believe my degree will help
me in my current role at my company, and I still want to pursue my nursing
degree. I hope to be a director of quality and care at a hospital. Outside of
school and work, I have a six-year-old daughter, and my husband is preparing
for a deployment to Europe this September. My daughter and I are very active
outdoors. We love to hike, and with the summer weather approaching, we are
beach bums on Onset Beach in Wareham.
I believe everyone is familiar with the HIPAA Privacy Rule as the national
standard to protect individuals' health records and any protected health
information. Inside the privacy, the rule is the authorization to release
information. The authorization to release information must be a HIPAA
compliant release form and, at the very least, contain the following:
1. a specific description of the information that will be used/disclosed
2. the purpose for which the information will be disclosed
3. the name of the person or entity to whom the information will be
disclosed
4. An expiration date for the consent to use/disclose the information is
withdrawn. Some states may allow an "expiration event," but my health
organization was specific about a date.
5. A signature and date signed by the individual or individual's
representative (which will require another form needed before releasing
any information)
For any information released by health professionals, the authorization to
release is needed. It is important for health professionals to be very familiar
with this form, know where it is stored in the health record, and reference the
form before giving any information to a person that is not the patient. The
privacy law is very important and needed. I have heard of situations when
patients are brought into the emergency department after a motor vehicle
accident with police accompanying the patient, trying to see if the physician
can determine if the patient is under the influence. Health professionals DO
NOT have the right to release any information about that patient to law
enforcement without a subpoena or warrant. Once the patient enters our
facility, our responsibility is to the patient. There are legal ways and processes
for law enforcement to use if a patient's medical record is needed.
HIPAA Journal. (2022, February 3). HIPAA release form. HIPAA Journal.
Retrieved May 5, 2022, from https://www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-release-
form/
