Becoming A Medical Office Specialist

As each of use join the medical field, we will learn quickly the responsibilities are vast. As a Medical Office Specialist, it is up to you; to make sure we are protecting our patients. We have to be mindful at all times of when we speak and our surroundings, because this can cause a patient embarrassment. The patient can lose their privacy if everyone in the health care field is not careful, so it is up to the Medical Office Specialist to make sure we are assiduous in our jobs. Here are some ways we can accomplish it: When calling or speaking to a patient, only refer to them by their first name.
Don’t discuss any medical issues out in an open area; only discuss medical issues behind closed doors.
Cover any medical charts, reports or
document that may have a patient name on it that you may have on your desk or carrying in the office, for another patient to see.
Unless you are helping a co-worker, don’t look over their shoulder to look at a patient’s information.
Always follow HIPAA guidelines, regarding patients PHI information
Never take any patient information out of the office, unless it is part of your job.
If you must write anything down on a piece of paper regarding the patient, such as a phone number, social security, and etc.; shred it as soon as you have jotted it in their record.
Lock Up Your Computer each time you leave your area unattended.\
Above all, NEVER talk about patients outside of work with friends and family. The list only covers a portion of the many things that you can do to protect patient’s privacy, just remember to be mindful of every action and work spoken by not breaching their trust! Your job depends on it! Always remember, you are the face of the practice. You’re probably going to be one of the first individuals a patient encounters during a visit, and the first person in whom the patient is expected to confide. Your primary job is to make each patient feel comfortable, safe and at ease. By making sure to protect individual privacy can go a long way toward achieving this goal!
We definitely have to be careful of whom we discuss patient information with. Under the HIPAA guidelines, it should make it straightforward for us. Here are a few of the guidelines: A patient can give consent for family members or friends verbally or written permission to receive
information.
By having a family member or friend in the patient room and AFTER the physician and nurse has asked if it is alright to speak opening; the patient is giving the provider permission.
If a patient is unconscious or incoherent because of an accident, illness or any reason, the doctor may talk to a family member or friend.
If the patient needs an interpreter and the provider has an employee on staff, or a friend, family member or interpreter not family is with them, they may disclose the information in front of the interpreter; AFTER the physician/nurse asks if they can speak to the patient with this person present and representing them.
If the patient is considered a child, then the information may go to the parents or legal guardian of that child.
A court order is when information is ordered by a judge. Only the specified information requested in the court order can be disclosed and nothing more.
A subpoena is issued by someone other than the judge, such as a court clerk or attorney. This document is to notify the person and give them the opportunity to object to their information being disclosed or be able to get legal assistance to protect their information. These are typically the main reasons for disclosure of medical information to others, but with countless scenarios that can occur. Each case must be handled individually and with sensitivity. Since, the healthcare provider is the one legally responsible for charges and fines that could be filed; it is up to each member of the healthcare system to make sure that they are working within the guidelines of the HIPAA rules to protect
themselves.