HIPAA Blog

[ Thursday, August 16, 2018 ]

 

Interesting question: did the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs breach HIPAA when they allowed staffers to use their smartphones to access patient records during an internet outage?  Possibly, but I doubt it, and I could certainly argue that, while allowing that type of open access is often improper, in the right circumstance it would not only be proper, but would be the right thing to do.  The basis of HIPAA is the imposition of reasonable restrictions to protect privacy and security, while not interfering with the provision of care.  If HIPAA is harming patient care, you aren't doing it right.  Is there a better, more secure way of doing this?  If so, it should have been done.  But in an emergency, and when patient care demands it, privacy must give way.  

Jeff [12:04 PM]

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