The Safekeeping of Patient Information

Medical professionals are expected to keep their patient's personal information private. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, establishes the standards used nationally to secure electronic health information.

Requirements for Safekeeping

• HIPAA requirements for medical facilities include providing employees at the facility with privacy policies and procedures to protect patient information, providing proper privacy training for employees and have a procedure in place to handle patient complaints if there is a violation.

Information that is Protected

• Patient information that is protected includes identifiable information about the patient as well as medical information about medical conditions, treatment plans and how the patient paid for their care.

Who is Protected

• Health plans, health care providers and health care clearinghouses are required to abide by HIPAA privacy rules. All of these medical entities handle sensitive, identifiable patient information that needs to be protected.