1. Go to the following website,
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001929.htm and read about the
purpose of reporting certain diseases and illness to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC). Explain how the Privacy Rule applies to reporting to the CDC?
Scenario: Daisha Estrada is in the clinic today. While you are escorting your patient, an 85 year old
woman, out to the waiting room you and the patient overhear the lab tech and another
nurse talking about Daisha’s lab results. They are discussing her vaginal smear coming
back positive for gonorrhea. As you are escorting the elderly woman out to the waiting
room she asks if gonorrhea is contagious. “Those two ladies in the hall were talking
about having to report that woman’s lab result to the CDC. Wouldn’t you only be
contacting the CDC if it was serious…can I get it from being here today?
2. Describe what the healthcare workers did wrong in the short scenario provided.
3. Describe what the healthcare workers should have done differently. What would
be the most appropriate action to take when wanting to discuss a patient’s
health status in a place such as the clinic
4. What information is protected by Federal Law?
Imagine you are working at a hospital. You find out that one of your friends was
admitted to the hospital last night and has had surgery. Although you are not assigned
to take care of your friend, she is in the unit that you work, therefore you have access to
her medical record. You are in the EHR documenting on your assigned patients and
decide to take a “quick look” at your friend’s chart to find out why she had surgery and
how she is doing. A little later you call a family member to tell them about your friend’s
surgery.
5. Discuss what was done wrong in this scenario and the possible implications and
consequences. Be thorough in writing your answer
6. One of the largest problems with healthcare information security has always been
inappropriate use by authorized users. How will the proposed regulations help to
control this problem? Provide at least on example in your answer
