pros and cons of confidentiality in healthcare

Pros and Cons Another problem, however, Pros and Cons The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule, however, defers to state and other federal applicable laws about disclosure of protected health information for unemancipated minors that may allow health care providers discretion regarding parental or guardian access to a minors protected health information 15. The Importance of Supplemental Disability Insurance. 4. Offering clinician note feedback. WebHere are some pros and cons to think through before you discuss your HIV status. Pros and cons It is helpful to conduct staff sensitivity training on the following topics: Comfort with issues regarding adolescent sexuality, Knowledge about confidentiality issues, including state and local laws, How to provide relevant information to parents or guardians and patients about private conversation time with the adolescent patient and obstetriciangynecologist, How to identify appropriate contact information for the adolescent patient (eg, personal cell phone) and parents or guardians for future follow-up, How to set up a code word to ensure the identity and security of the adolescent patient, Comfort with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) issues and pronoun (she, he, they) usage. Ability to share health information with family members and other relevant clinicians. When feasible, obstetriciangynecologists and other health care providers should work with government agencies and legislative bodies to eliminate or mitigate the effect of laws that unduly restrict confidential health services for minor adolescents. WebPros And Cons Of Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002. Cons: Physicians have less autonomy and less continuity with patients. Finally, keeping private the information about the health of the patient, this will negatively affect his or her life. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers the following recommendations and conclusions: Confidential care for adolescents is important because it encourages access to care and increases discussions about sensitive topics and behaviors that may substantially affect their health and well-being. The capacity of an adolescent to consent for health care as a mature minor is influenced by the minors developmental maturity, previous experience with illness, the gravity of the current illness, and the risks of proposed therapy. Wearable Technology: Disadvantages of Medical Technology in Healthcare: 1. The staff is always available to discuss health problems or answer questions. If notes automatically submit to EHRs, issues regarding sexuality, gender identity, substance use, mental health, and STIs may be included. HMOs often only cover This Committee Opinion was developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Adolescent Health Care in collaboration with committee member Kimberly Hoover, MD and liaison member Stephanie Crewe, MD, MHS. you may experience negative reactions ranging from maltreatment to a breach of confidentiality and even to unfair dismissal. New York, NY: Guttmacher Institute; 2019. Being aware of alternate health care referral centers for free or substantially decreased costs may be of benefit for the adolescent if there is a risk of billing disclosure. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Technology Improving Healthcare in Hospitals: 4. Adolescents face considerable potential harms to their health from mental health disorders, interpersonal violence, substance use, and unprotected sexual activity. What is Universal Health Care The other advantage for concealing health information to the service provider may end up being detrimental to the patient. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has neither solicited nor accepted any commercial involvement in the development of the content of this published product. However, there is concern that it may result in important confidentiality breaches for adolescent patients. In addition, some states have statutes that require reporting of abuse of hospital patients or long-term care patients, elder abuse, spousal abuse, and domestic abuse. In fact, quite a lot of personal information is not protected at all. Many institutions struggle to meet the current standard for providing access to and maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive portions of the medical record as required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 4. Those who have good insurance Quality healthcare services: The US has modern medical equipment and ensures citizens are able to get quality medical care. Confidential care for adolescents is important because it encourages access to care and increases discussions about sensitive topics and behaviors that may substantially affect their health and well-being 4. In fact, quite a lot of personal information is not protected at all. Available at: Confidentiality in Adolescent Health Care, Addressing Patients and Parents or Guardians About Confidentiality, Provision of Health Care to Adolescent Patients, Suggestions for Protecting Adolescent Confidentiality Within Institutions, https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/overview-minors-consent-law, https://www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/adolescent-confidentiality.html, https://www.nihcm.org/component/content/article/5-issue-brief/1287-protecting-confidential-health-services-for-adolescents-young-adults, https://www.opennotes.org/tools-resources/for-health-care-providers/implementation-toolkit/, https://www.cahl.org/state-minor-consent-laws-a-summary-third-edition, Alliance for Innovation on Women's Health, Postpartum Contraceptive Access Initiative. Confidentiality discussions and private time with a health-care provider for youth, United States, 2016. During this era of increased socialized medicine, it has come with its pros and cons on the confidentiality, rights, safety, and the security of patients. The Pros and Cons of Online Therapy - Verywell Mind Obstetriciangynecologists are encouraged to know their individual systems and institutional policies regarding confidentiality, EHRs, patient portals, and the open access for visit notes. Bulk pricing was not found for item. WebPro 2 Instituting a right to health care could lower the cost of health care in the United States. Given the health concerns, at least one court has held that a physician may have a duty to disclose genetic information about a patient to immediate family members. Generally, parents or guardians and adolescents should be informed, both separately and together, that the information each of them shares with the health care provider will be treated as confidential. ACOG Committee Opinion No. Cons: A single-payer system can be more costly, as it allows doctors and health care facilities to negotiate the terms of their contracts. The Pros And Cons Of Confidentiality | ipl.org - Internet Public Thirty-seven states require physicians to maintain confidentiality of medical records almost all states have placed some restrictions on the use of information contained in medical records that are held by state agencies. Obstet Gynecol 2020;135:e1717. Again, it is a matter of weighing the pros and cons between keeping and breaching confidentiality. Insurance companies may provide their policyholders discounted medical treatment by entering into agreements with doctors' offices and hospitals. The Importance of Supplemental Disability Insurance. Obstetriciangynecologists and other health care providers should be active in educating their staff and patients regarding the confidentiality of services. WebIn general, [a] covered health care provider [with a direct treatment relationship] must obtain the individuals consent,prior to using or disclosing protected health information to carry out treatment, payment, or health care operations. (See section [] 164.506, 65 Federal Register [F.R.] American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The bill consists of 11 sections and was created as a reaction to high numbers of fraud and business misbehavior in major US corporations. WebConfidentiality covers all medical records (including x-rays, lab-reports, etc. Rights-based theory states that patients have a right to control how their medical information is used. WebPeople may get a higher feeling of security. It is not intended to substitute for the independent professional judgment of the treating clinician. 758, Promoting Healthy Relationships in Adolescents, for potential talking points when discussing confidentiality with parents, guardians, and patients 10. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online, 39(4), 571-578. WebPros And Cons Of Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002. Literature discussing confidentiality and AIDS patients supports the notion that health care professionals (including counselors) have a duty to warn and protect at-risk third parties. Adolescent girls' and boys' preferences for provider gender and confidentiality in their health care. We are a society strangely obsessed both with privacy and obtaining information. The Pros of Using AI. Almost all states have child abuse reporting statutes. WebHealth Care Providers: Any provider of medical or other health services, or supplies, who transmits any health information in electronic form in connection with a transaction for which standard requirements have been adopted. An overview of consent to reproductive health services by young people. Allow parental or guardian access to the EHR to expire at the age state law requires confidentiality. ACOG Committee Opinion No. Although much attention is currently focused on the federal privacy rule (HIPAA), there are a number of state confidentiality protections. Available at: English A, Bass L, Boyle AD, Eshragh F. State minor consent laws: a summary . But what if a patient threatens suicide? Therefore, a doctor is not under any obligation to reveal threats of minor harm, threats that the doctor does not believe are serious, or general threats where there is no identifiable individual at risk. These registries are usually kept confidential, and in many cases the information is kept separately from any individually identifying information. 409 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024-2188, Privacy Statement In other words, socialized medicine is one of the many forms of social insurance. Other states have consent laws that include substance misuse treatment, pregnancy prevention and care, and, sometimes, abortion services, mental health care, and emergency care. Telehealth: The advantages and disadvantages - Harvard Health WebCharge capture refers to tracking each charge to a patient for medical services given. The Cons of Patients Confidentiality, Security, Rights, and Privacy During this Era of Socialized Medicine Potential for disclosure of laboratory results, prescriptions, and diagnoses may occur with itemized explanation of benefits statements. 22 Pros and Cons of HIPAA Vittana.org Obstetriciangynecologists should be aware of how the process of the release of medical records of minors is addressed by their institution. House confidential information in a separate section of the EHR that is not open access. The privacy rule, which is based on requirements contained in HIPAA, provides protection against parents or guardians access to protected health information for the following circumstances: adolescents aged 18 years and older; emancipated minors; minors who can legally consent to services or receive services without parental or guardian consent or notification according to state or other applicable law; or when a parent or guardian assents to an agreement of confidentiality between the minor adolescent and health care provider. The consequences of undermining this duty of confidence would be damaging to the individuals health and treatment. All rights reserved. Similar caution should be assumed when releasing information to other health care providers. Any updates to this document can be found on acog.org or by calling the ACOG Resource Center. Advantages of Medical Technology in Healthcare: 1. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reviews its publications regularly; however, its publications may not reflect the most recent evidence. Webthe confidentiality of adolescents health care in-formation are fundamentally necessary to allow health care professionals to provide appropriate health care to adolescents and Confidentiality extends beyond reproductive health for minors. Insurance companies may provide their policyholders discounted medical treatment by entering into agreements with doctors' offices and hospitals. When providing care for neurotypical (ie, without a defined neurologic difference) adolescents, obstetriciangynecologists and other health care providers should consider issues of parental access to the adolescents login information. Leawood, KS: AAFP; 2018. The bill consists of 11 sections and was created as a reaction to high numbers of fraud and business misbehavior in major US corporations. The most obvious examples of public health concerns outweighing individual rights to confidentiality are from contagious disease cases. It is important for obstetriciangynecologists to be aware of their individual state and local laws. Require a parent or guardian code word to access an adolescents patient portal. Pros and Cons For products jointly developed with other organizations, conflict of interest disclosures by representatives of the other organizations are addressed by those organizations. People could make long-term plans in a more profound manner. She had been admitted with HIV-related complications from pneumonia. On the other hand, the social health insurance is defined as those systems whereby which people transfer their financial risk of medical bills to a risk pool. Patients should have autonomy regarding parent or guardian presence during examination, but a parent or guardian should not take the place of a chaperone 12. It is important not only for health professionals to be aware of the many considerations of confidentiality laws, but it is also important for the individual. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. All states and the District of Columbia allow minors to consent to sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment without parental permission 14. For that matter, it is important to note that by ensuring privacy, this will promote more effective communication between the service provider and the patient. All ACOG committee members and authors have submitted a conflict of interest disclosure statement related to this published product. Please try reloading page. The Pros of Using AI. social media in contemporary nursing: risks and benefits In the latter situation, the laws usually provide protections against liability for disclosure. The ACOG policies can be found on acog.org. Recommendations for electronic health record use for delivery of adolescent health care. Modern healthcare organizations have turned to electronic medical records (EMRs) in an Standards for health information technology to ensure adolescent privacy. or call toll-free from U.S.: (800) 762-2264 or (240) 547-2156 The obvious solution is to go to court, but this means making public the information they did not want anyone to know in the first place! Second, we want to make sure that they have had the opportunity to learn to talk with a doctor by themselves so that when they are young adults, they are prepared to communicate and advocate for what they need. Statutes on the rights of minors to consent to health care services vary by state, and obstetriciangynecologists and other health care providers should be familiar with the regulations that apply to their practice. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has neither solicited nor accepted any commercial involvement in the development of the content of this published product. 796. Using technology to deliver health care has several advantages, including cost savings, convenience, and the ability to provide care to people Advantages of telehealth. Confidentiality ACOG does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse the products or services of any firm, organization, or person. Social Media Use Common Expectations for Nurses s Right to Confidential Reproductive Health Care Effective patientphysician communication. Nature documentaries showing the loss of plant diversity around the world raise our awareness of environmental threats to plant life. What is managed Care One form of medical coverage is the managed-care plan. Social media and health care professionals: benefits, risks, and best practices. This claim is endlessly repeated but deeply obscure. Cloudy confidentiality: clinical and legal implications of cloud computing in health care. Additionally, it is costly for vendors to develop and maintain the levels of mandated confidentiality because the laws regarding confidentiality vary by state 4. An email address may be helpful for contacting the patient. (2011). Pros: A single-payer system offers individuals greater control over their healthcare, providing the ability to choose their doctors based on approach or reputation. Employed physician in academic institution. As your adolescents doctor and as the parent (or guardian), we have two roles here. Employed physician in academic institution. What Is Supplemental Disability Insurance? Alderman EM. pros and cons The final category, waiving confidentiality for research purposes is a little bit different, but even here the goal is linked to health specifically advancing general knowledge so as to achieve future health benefits. In the next section, we will look at the circumstances under which confidentiality may be broken. Patient access varies widely across institutions and by the type of EHR used by the health care provider. Quicker access to test results. Providing alone time, apart from a parent or guardian, for discussion between the adolescent patient and health care provider is an important aspect of the health care visit 5. An overview of consent to reproductive health services by young people . Universal health care may encourage entrepreneurship. Read terms, Number 803 (Replaces Committee Opinion Number 599, May 2014). The average increase in per-patient charges is $11.09 and patient collections have increased by $11.48 on average. There should be private conversation time between the health care provider and adolescent patient. The U.S. Supreme Court has stated that "disclosures of private medical information to doctors, to hospital personnel, to insurance companies, and to public health agencies are often an essential part of modern medical practice." Pros and Cons of US Healthcare pros and cons Breaking Confidentiality in Clients with Generally, parents or guardians and adolescents should be informed, both separately and together, that the information each of them shares with the health care provider will be treated as confidential. Still, they are horrified by the potential that their insurance company may need access for reimbursement purposes. The problem is that personal information (which is whats at stake with medical confidentiality) is not protected at law in the same way ones home or bodily integrity is protected. informed consent Available at: National Institute for Health Care Management. As a result, officials have tried to develop privacy protections that apply to different settings and circumstances. Advantages & Disadvantages of an EHR Statutes vary by state, but minors may become emancipated when they marry, serve in active duty in the U.S. military, or obtain a declaration from the court. Some states have statutes that require reporting of abuse of hospital patients or long-term care patients, elder abuse, spousal abuse, and domestic abuse. As part of comprehensive health care, it is our practice to ask parents to wait outside for part of the interview and to encourage the adolescents to discuss their own interests and concerns. Adolescents should be aware that certain insurance carriers itemize explanation of benefits statements 7. It is important to note that the EHR for general health care visits may contain information pertaining to care, such as a social history or sexual behavior history, that was provided under minor consent or mature minor provisions. Neither ACOG nor its officers, directors, members, employees, or agents will be liable for any loss, damage, or claim with respect to any liabilities, including direct, special, indirect, or consequential damages, incurred in connection with this publication or reliance on the information presented.All ACOG committee members and authors have submitted a conflict of interest disclosure statement related to this published product. Pros and Cons Electronic Health Records of Patients in Hospitals: 2. Patient portals are mechanisms within the EHR system that provide patients with electronic access to their personal health record. Since its much easier and faster to access patient details and history through an electronic health record, its also much easier to immediately place imaging and laboratory work orders. State laws typically either address the type of information (usually based on disease or illness) or the entity holding the information (such as government agencies), or both. This article will explore how confidentiality should be conceived and if and when it should be broken. Obstetriciangynecologists and other health care providers and institutions that establish an electronic health record (EHR) system should consider systems with adolescent-specific modules that can be customized to accommodate the confidentiality needs related to minor adolescents and comply with the requirements of state and federal laws. However, there may be substantial cost to these safeguards, and constant reevaluation of protection is imperative. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, posted on the internet, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. The following are examples of how some institutions have provided protection to adolescents; they are not applicable to all institutions or systems: For patients ages 1217-years old, manage or restrict parental or guardian access to provider notes. Even though ensuring the privacy of a patient is quite important during these days socialized medicine, but it has got some of its disadvantages. WebThe Cons Confidentiality and the institution of HIPAA hasnt been all positive. Grilo SA, Catallozzi M, Santelli JS, Yan H, Song X, Heitel J, et al. J Adolesc Health 2016;58:13440. Literature discussing confidentiality and AIDS patients supports the notion that health care professionals (including counselors) have a duty to warn and protect at-risk third parties. An EHR makes it much easier for a medical practice to track a charge for each procedure performed. Obstetriciangynecologists should not misinterpret consent required to provide health care services with consent required to provide education and counseling; that is, even when consent is required by a parent or guardian for provision of contraception, an obstetriciangynecologist may still provide counseling about contraceptive options. The sharing of medical information is one of the most complicated areas, and most patients are not even aware of the extent to which information about their care is shared within a hospital setting. Common Law Duty of Confidentiality It must be acknowledged by the nurse and the nursing profession that social media has the power to enable the nurse to network with colleagues and share research findings through both private and open forums.