NURS FPX 4045 Assessment 2

NURS FPX 4045 Assessment 2 Protected Health Information

Student Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX4045 Nursing Informatics: Managing Health Information and Technology

Prof. Name:

Date

Protected Health Information

Understanding PHI and HIPAA Guidelines

Protected Health Information (PHI) encompasses any identifiable data linked to a patient that is associated with their medical history, treatment, or billing details. This may include personal identifiers such as names, phone numbers, medical diagnoses, prescribed drugs, and health insurance information (Pool et al., 2023). Ensuring the security and privacy of PHI, particularly in telehealth environments, is essential to preserving patient trust and compliance with federal regulations.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) offers comprehensive federal guidelines that safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of PHI across the United States (Lindsey et al., 2023). It forbids the unauthorized disclosure of medical data and supports patients’ rights to control their health records. HIPAA is particularly relevant today due to the increased reliance on digital platforms in healthcare. Its foundational elements include the Security Rule, which protects electronic health data from breaches; the Privacy Rule, which regulates the disclosure of PHI; and the Confidentiality Rule, which guarantees secure data communication. For instance, using non-secure video platforms for telehealth appointments can expose patient data to breaches. Likewise, discussing sensitive information in open or public settings can result in unintentional data leaks (Alder, 2023).

Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Social Media Concerns

An interdisciplinary approach is essential for protecting electronic health information (EHI), especially in digital care delivery systems like telehealth. Healthcare teams must collaborate across clinical, administrative, and technological divisions to enforce PHI protection protocols. Clinical teams participate in cybersecurity training to adopt best practices, such as password hygiene and encrypted communications. Meanwhile, administrative personnel formulate privacy policies, and IT departments implement technical tools like firewalls and secure networks. Institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic have successfully adopted this team-based strategy to safeguard patient data (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).

Nevertheless, social media misuse continues to be a common source of HIPAA violations. Health professionals, including nurses, must avoid sharing any patient-related content on social platforms. Such actions can lead to disciplinary measures, legal penalties, or even criminal charges. For example, a nurse’s assistant was dismissed for posting a video of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease on Snapchat, and a surgeon received a \$10,000 fine for revealing PHI on a public review platform. Additionally, institutions like Green Ridge Behavioral Healthcare faced penalties for exposing sensitive information of over 14,000 patients (Moore & Frye, 2020; Alder, 2023). These cases underscore the importance of maintaining professionalism and confidentiality in all communication settings.

Practices and Strategies for PHI Protection

Healthcare providers must implement comprehensive strategies to ensure PHI security, especially during digital interactions. This includes deploying systems equipped with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption, conducting regular audits, and offering ongoing cybersecurity training to staff. The Mayo Clinic, for instance, uses encrypted platforms to secure patient data during telehealth sessions (Mayo Clinic, 2024). Likewise, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) carries out routine internal assessments to confirm HIPAA compliance and identify vulnerabilities (MGH, n.d.).

Organizations must also establish explicit social media policies to prevent PHI violations. This includes forbidding the sharing of any patient-related information online, mandating the use of encrypted communication for all patient discussions, and encouraging the timely reporting of potential breaches. These measures promote a strong organizational culture that values patient privacy and legal compliance.

Summary Table

References

Alder, S. (2023). HIPAA and social media rules – Updated for 2023. The HIPAA Journal. https://www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-social-media/

Alder, S. (2023). HIPAA privacy rule – Updated for 2023. The HIPAA Journal. https://www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-privacy-rule/

Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Holistic, multidisciplinary approach protects patient data and privacy. ClevelandClinic.org. https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/holistic-multidisciplinary-approach-protects-patient-data-and-privacy/

NURS FPX 4045 Assessment 2 Protected Health Information

Lindsey, D., Sniker, R., Travers, C., Budhwani, H., Richardson, M., Quisney, R., & Shukla, V. V. (2023). When HIPAA hurts: Legal barriers to texting may reinforce healthcare disparities and disenfranchise vulnerable patients. Journal of Perinatology, 45(2), 278–281. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-00805-5

Mayo Clinic. (2024). Privacy policy. MayoClinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-this-site/privacy-policy

MGH. (n.d.). Protect our patients’ privacy. Massachusetts General Hospital. https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/research/mgh-privacy-presentation.pdf

Moore, W., & Frye, S. (2020). Review of HIPAA, part 2: Infractions, rights, violations, and role for the imaging technologist. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 48(1), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.119.227827

NURS FPX 4045 Assessment 2 Protected Health Information

Pool, J., Akhlaghpour, S., Fatehi, F., & Burton-Jones, A. (2023). A systematic analysis of failures in protecting personal health data: A scoping review. International Journal of Information Management, 74, 102719–102719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2023.102719