Administrative Ethics Paper
Administrative Ethics Paper
Joshua R. Willis
October 1, 2012
HCS/335
Rick Johnson
Administrative Ethics Paper
In the health care field patient privacy and confidentiality are of the highest importance. Physicians need to maintain confidentiality and protect their patients’ privacy to keep the level of trust that is needed to provide efficient health care. Patients need to trust that their private health information will be kept confidential before they will disclose important health information to their physician. Because of this importance in 1996 Congress passed the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA has put laws and regulations in place to protect patient privacy and confidentiality. Despite HIPAA and its laws and regulations, maintaining patient confidentiality at all times in certain health care settings is not easy. One health care setting that is facing issues with patient confidentiality is psychosomatic medicine. In the article by Psychosomatics, Confidentiality in the Age of HIPAA: A Challenge for Psychosomatic Medicine it discusses the administrative issues relating to patient confidentiality. I will be discussing the issue and the population affected any potential solutions and how the solution is supported, the ethical and legal issues related to this administrative issue, and any managerial responsibilities associated with the issue. In the article that I read, the administrative issue relates to patient confidentiality in psychosomatic medicine. Psychosomatic medicine is defined as “a system of medicine which aims at discovering the exact nature of the relationship between the emotions and bodily function, affirming the principle that the mind and body are one” (Reference.MD). With psychosomatic medicine, psychiatric practitioners work as consultants in medical settings with other practitioners. Therefore, there is a collaborative relationship between the medical practitioners and psychiatric
Joshua R. Willis
October 1, 2012
HCS/335
Rick Johnson
Administrative Ethics Paper
In the health care field patient privacy and confidentiality are of the highest importance. Physicians need to maintain confidentiality and protect their patients’ privacy to keep the level of trust that is needed to provide efficient health care. Patients need to trust that their private health information will be kept confidential before they will disclose important health information to their physician. Because of this importance in 1996 Congress passed the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA has put laws and regulations in place to protect patient privacy and confidentiality. Despite HIPAA and its laws and regulations, maintaining patient confidentiality at all times in certain health care settings is not easy. One health care setting that is facing issues with patient confidentiality is psychosomatic medicine. In the article by Psychosomatics, Confidentiality in the Age of HIPAA: A Challenge for Psychosomatic Medicine it discusses the administrative issues relating to patient confidentiality. I will be discussing the issue and the population affected any potential solutions and how the solution is supported, the ethical and legal issues related to this administrative issue, and any managerial responsibilities associated with the issue. In the article that I read, the administrative issue relates to patient confidentiality in psychosomatic medicine. Psychosomatic medicine is defined as “a system of medicine which aims at discovering the exact nature of the relationship between the emotions and bodily function, affirming the principle that the mind and body are one” (Reference.MD). With psychosomatic medicine, psychiatric practitioners work as consultants in medical settings with other practitioners. Therefore, there is a collaborative relationship between the medical practitioners and psychiatric
References: Mermelstein, H. T., & Wallack, J. J. (2008). Confidentiality in the Age of HIPAA: A Challenge for Psychosomatic Medicine. Psychosomatic , 97-103. Munson, C. (n.d.). Consequences for Breaking Confidentiality Agreements. Retrieved September 30, 2012, from eHow: http://www.ehow.com/list_6527377_consequences-breaking-confidentiality-agreements.html Reference.MD. (n.d.). Psychosomatic Medicine. Retrieved September 29, 2012, from Reference.MD: http://www.reference.md/files/D011/mD011611.html