Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Compliance with healthcare regulations is an ongoing challenge for hospitals and healthcare workers. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a law that introduced changes in 2002 and 2003. The privacy section of this law is the most difficult to implement. It

requires all healthcare workers to think of ways to continuously protect patient privacy. As part of its ongoing compliance efforts, RMH shares ways to protect patient privacy and provides education on new processes that will help ensure patient information remains confidential.

HIPAA is a process, not just a legislated set of rules. A process involving technology, people, procedures, rules, interactions and documented models of how healthcare businesses should operate. HIPAA demands standardization and secure information access for providers and patients. It enhances working relationships between payers, providers and patient.

What has RMH done to protect patient privacy?

A brochure about patient privacy will be given to every patient that registers at an RMH site.

Computer pass-codes are reviewed and changed periodically. Policies and guidelines have been written to protect patient privacy.

An internal evaluation process has been completed to determine the level of understanding about protecting patient privacy and determine education needs.

An on going review of access to patient information via computers, clipboards, monitors continue.

Exploration of environmental changes that need to be addressed to provide more privacy in our outpatient settings.

We are continuously educating our physicians, community, and ourselves on HIPAA changes. Compliance begins with understanding and following the many rules, regulations, and guidelines set by various governmental and accrediting agencies.