Regulations in Information Security in the Healthcare Industry - Assignment Example

Information Security Governance - HEALTHCARE # Question Regulations in information security in the Healthcare industry According to NHS (2013), information security governance in healthcare entails putting in place necessary safeguards for patient personal information. This is because patient’s personal details are very crucial and it is the responsibility of the healthcare industry to safeguard it in all means possible. On this note, the United States department of health and human services has recently issued new national health information standards as per health insurance portability and accountability act (Thacker, 2003). The main aim of these standards is to protect the privacy of patient’s health data, commonly known as protected health information (PHI). However, since protected health information has been transformed in electronic, paper or oral, the department discovered that the information was prone to breach. Therefore, the standards entail a number of regulations that regulates how health entities should use or disclose certain patient’s health information. The first one, grants patients more jurisdictions over their health information. This way only the patients has the power to determine what to be used or disclosed. The second one, states boundaries on what, how, and when or release any health information (NHS, 2013). This ensures that everyone in the organization complies with the laws put in place to govern such sensitive issues. The third regulation states the appropriate safeguards that all the medical staff and workers must follow in handling patient’s information. These safeguards provide standards and guidelines for those who work for an organization (Thacker, 2003). For instance, the staffs are required to sign contracts and document that provide legal and professional standards. They also include code of practice that provides a framework for all concerned parties to adhere to as well as adequate tools and knowledge so they can effectively achieve the standards set. The fourth one holds parties involved accountable with illegal and civil penalties in case they violate the privacy rights of a patient. The final regulation requires the patient to concede with the public health when it supports disclosure of certain information. In addition, due to technological advancement, most organizations have started health websites. These websites provide information on how to practice good governance. An example of one of these websites is NHS Net users only (NHS, 2013). # Question 2 Description of each regulation The most fundamental aim of any health facility in safeguarding information is to show patients and staff they can trust it to protect their privacy. Confidentiality of one’s personal information is a mandatory requirement for practitioners and an organization in general. An organization that promotes and practices good information governance and follows the guidelines set to safeguard patient’s secrecy define legal expectations (NHS, 2013). For instance, in the first regulation on establishing appropriate safeguards, those handling stored data must be educated and must understand the importance of patient’s privacy. The information technology specialists must ensure that they store and handle information appropriately. They must also ensure that only those who are authorized to store the data and information get access to the files and documents. The second regulation requires healthcare organizations to set boundaries on what information to be used or released. This is because some of the information provided is very sensitive hence guidelines are required in protecting patients and staff. For instance, the NHS code of practice that provides set standards governing and protecting those who work in health care facilities. Since these regulations change from time to time it is important to review the regulations regularly (Thacker, 2003). These reviews must comply with the legal requirements. Protecting the NHS infrastructure is also very crucial in any organization. Since most of these infrastructures are interconnected, these services are provided in public and private sectors. On the third regulation that gives a patient more control over his or her health information, provides that only those he or she has authorized to access the data can access it. An organization should also ensure that information is safe by always using passwords to access any information. In addition, Patients should also get any information on their progress and records whenever they need it (NHS, 2013). The final regulation requiring the patient to concede with public health is a provision of the health insurance portability and accountability act. It empowers the public heath to access and release certain individual’s health information in case it is for the good of the society (Thacker, 2003). However, there are risks involved in safeguarding, regulating and managing this information. One of the risks an organization might face is information hacking as well as electronic breach. To overcome such a breach most healthcare services are protected from electronic threat through a protection program known as the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) protection program. On the other hand, information governance regulations provide a detailed framework on legal rules. These legal rules guide the staff and patients on how to handle and disclose any information. It also plays a major role in information policy for both social and health care (NHS, 2013). # Question 3 Importance of information security regulations Information security regulations play a very important role in achieving effectiveness and efficiency in the healthcare industry. There are several benefits that are associated with every regulation. The first benefit under the data protection and information confidentiality is access to medical records by patients without worries of privacy breach. As mentioned earlier, most of the information stored in these organizations is very sensitive. In addition to which, this information is handled by different parties, therefore, policies and guidelines must be provided to protect patients and the staffs privacy (Thacker, 2003). The second benefit under the regulation on establishing appropriate safeguards information quality regulation is reduction of irregularities. With clear definition of medical terms and well outlined procedures, the patient is ascertained of quality service. This also helps in standardizing practices in an organization as well as having everybody on the same page as well as reduced possibilities of mismatching reports. The third benefit under the information security is technological updates. With up to date information technology systems IT specialists will be able to monitor and track down scenarios of breach as well as narrowing down the attack. Finally, civil and criminal penalties on violation of privacy rights assist healthcare organization to comply with the law (Thacker, 2003). The patient protection and affordable care act calls for all healthcare organizations to meet certain standards. This is important to the health organization since failure to do so disqualify them from receiving funds from the government. They also help comply with the international information standard ISO/IEC 2700:20O5 ensures that laws put in place are followed to the letter (NHS, 2013). These laws are international and they guarantee guidelines and high standards for handling information. They also ensure that confidentiality and secrecy is observed when handling both personal and corporate information. # Question 4 Review One of the regulations reviewed in the above assignment are the set boundaries on information used or released. Data protection and privacy ensures that sensitive information regarding a patient is protected. The second one is the safeguards, which govern and gives guidelines on best practice and the best way to handle patient’s information. The third holds involved parties legally responsible of their action in case they violate patient’s privacy rights. Therefore, they must comply with the law and the privacy right. The third one give’s more control power to the patient over his or her health information. The main aim is to show that an organization can be trusted to provide confidentiality and secrecy of its patients in health and social care. Finally, the need to concede with the public health over release of one’s health care records in case the society is involved. Therefore, every healthcare facility must ensure that patient’s privacy and confidentiality is safeguarded for the interest of both patients and corporate. References National Health Service (NHS). (2013). Information Governance. Retrieved 20th march from http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/infogov/igfaqs Thacker, S, B. (2003). HIPAA Privacy Rule and Public Health. Retrieved 23rd march from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/m2e411a1.htm Read More