How important is patient privacy? A reflection

Privacy is a basic human right; however, a patient\u27s right to privacy is often violated because health care providers do not fulfill their ethical and professional responsibilities. There is an immediate need to preserve patients\u27 privacy by health care professionals; a standardized policy on patients\u27 privacy is important. This paper aims to analyze the significance of patents\u27 privacy in health care. A case scenario of a pregnant woman from an antenatal setting has been integrated to support the concept of privacy in promoting and advocating patients\u27 right

Information privacy in the British Columbia health care system: issues and challenges

This thesis investigates the challenges to the protection of privacy in the health care field and the regulatory response by the government of British Columbia to legislate information and privacy rights. Recent social, political, economic and technological developments all pose potential threats to privacy. An examination of the privacy literature demonstrates that the subject of privacy has captured the attention of many disciplines. Furthermore, the legal, philosophical, political and socio-cultural literature suggests diverse views exist about the definition and value of privacy. Nevertheless, in Canada and other western countries, privacy is considered an important value in a liberal democratic state. Specifically, "information privacy" where individuals have some control over the dissemination of personal information is a subject which has been gaining salience on the public agenda over the past thirty years. In response to the modem welfare state's expanding data banks of personal information and the proliferation of computerization, several western democracies have enacted data protection policies. A comparative examination of data protection policies highlights different approaches to the protection of privacy in the United States and Canada. The government of British Columbia drew from these experiences and enacted stronger data protection legislation. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPP) Act gave the Information and Privacy Commissioner regulatory powers to overturn government decisions and to issue binding orders. Privacy of health information is an important data protection issue. Traditionally, the medical relationship was confidential and free from third party interference. A critical survey of theories in the health literature describes the physician-patient relationship and information control. The proliferation of information within society increases the need to control and to limit the use of personal health records. Three trends in the health care field challenge the traditional professional relationship between the physician and the patient. First, the status of the physician changes as more individuals and organizations gain access to patient information. Moreover, consumers of health services demand more information from physicians. Second, the multi-disciplinary approach to health care delivery requires the exchange and sharing of information among health care professionals. Researchers and public health officers require identifiable patient information to conduct studies and to protect public health. Third, government agencies request more information from the health care sector and recipients of social benefits. The information is used to regulate and control the publicly funded health care system. The provision of hospital insurance, medicare and other health care insurance programs entails the collection of large quantities of information. A variety of technologies including the Pharmanet computerized drug information system and card technologies provide administrative data and permit the sharing of health information among government agencies and health care professionals. Some critics and advocates suggest the new technologies reduce privacy further and increase the potential for a "surveillance society." An examination of the policy literature, parliamentary debates and interviews with members of the policy community promoting information rights in British Columbia demonstrates that privacy is important both politically and symbolically. An assessment of the FOIPP Act and interviews with hospitals and self-governing professional bodies suggest patients and organizations have benefited from the legislative changes. The statutory requirements of the Act present some challenges to the financial and organizational resources of hospitals and self-governing professional bodies. A study of the health policy environment and the protection of privacy highlights a number of important trends in Canada. These include: the increasing legislative and judicial protection of privacy rights, the emerging patient rights movement, the regulatory challenge for governments to balance the right to privacy with the need to provide efficient and effective services using information technologies and the influential role of the policy community in the field of data protection.The original print copy of this thesis may be available here: http://wizard.unbc.ca/record=b115144

The need for a security/privacy model for the health sector in Ghana

Many developing countries around the world are faced with the dilemma brain-drain as their healthcare professionals seek better economic opportunities in other countries. This problem is compounded by a lack of robust healthcare infrastructure requiring substantive improvements to bring them up to date. This impacts a countries ability to understand morbidity and mortality patterns which impact health care policy and program planning. The lack of IT infrastructure also negatively affects the safety, quality, and efficiency of health care delivery in these countries. Ghana is faced with this precise set of circumstances as it struggles to adopt policies to overcome these challenges. The Republic of Ghana is implementing strategies to accelerate is development through information and communication technology (ICT), however in implementing this in the health sector it is also important to put into operation a system that is secure and protects the privacy of health consumers. One technique that has proven effective in recent years in facilitating the delivery of quality healthcare services to a wide range of consumers is the use of smart cards. Research into the viability of smart cards is therefore necessary

The meaning and importance of dignified care: Findings from a survey of health and social care professionals

This article is available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright © 2013 Cairns et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.There are well established national and local policies championing the need to provide dignity in care for older people. We have evidence as to what older people and their relatives understand by the term 'dignified care' but less insight into the perspectives of staff regarding their understanding of this key policy objective.This research was supported by the Dunhill Medical Trust [grant number: R93/1108]

The Utility of an Online Forward Triage Tool During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Health Care Provider and Health Authority Perspectives.

Introduction The SARS CoV-2 pandemic poses major challenges not only to patients but also to health care professionals and policy-makers, with rapidly changing, sometimes complex, recommendations, and guidelines to the population. Online forward triage tools (OFTT) got a major boost from the pandemic as they helped with the implementation and monitoring of recommendations. Methods A multiphase mixed method sequential explanatory study design was employed. Quantitative data were collected first and informed the qualitative interview guides. Video interviews were held with key informants (health care providers and health authorities) between 2 September and 10 December 2020. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim, coded thematically and compared with patient perspectives (framework). Objectives To explore the perspectives of health care providers and authorities in Canton Bern on the utility of a COVID-19 OFTT, as well as elicit recommendations for telehealth in future. Results The following themes emerged; (i) accessibility (ii) health system burden reduction (iii) utility in preventing onward transmission (iv) utility in allaying fear and anxiety (v) medical decision-making utility (vi) utility as information source (vii) utility in planning and systems thinking. The health care providers and health authorities further provided insights on potential barriers and facilitators of telehealth in future. Conclusion Similar to patients, health care providers acknowledge the potential and utility of the COVID-19 OFTT particularly as an information source and in reducing the health system burden. Data privacy, doctor-patient relationship, resistance to change, regulatory, and mandate issues, and lack of systems thinking were revealed as barriers to COVID-19 OFTT utility

Legal Solutions in Health Reform: Privacy and Health Information Technology

Identifies gaps in the federal health privacy standard and proposes options for strengthening the legal framework for privacy protections in order to build public trust in health information technology. Presents arguments for and against each option

Designing the Health-related Internet of Things: Ethical Principles and Guidelines

The conjunction of wireless computing, ubiquitous Internet access, and the miniaturisation of sensors have opened the door for technological applications that can monitor health and well-being outside of formal healthcare systems. The health-related Internet of Things (H-IoT) increasingly plays a key role in health management by providing real-time tele-monitoring of patients, testing of treatments, actuation of medical devices, and fitness and well-being monitoring. Given its numerous applications and proposed benefits, adoption by medical and social care institutions and consumers may be rapid. However, a host of ethical concerns are also raised that must be addressed. The inherent sensitivity of health-related data being generated and latent risks of Internet-enabled devices pose serious challenges. Users, already in a vulnerable position as patients, face a seemingly impossible task to retain control over their data due to the scale, scope and complexity of systems that create, aggregate, and analyse personal health data. In response, the H-IoT must be designed to be technologically robust and scientifically reliable, while also remaining ethically responsible, trustworthy, and respectful of user rights and interests. To assist developers of the H-IoT, this paper describes nine principles and nine guidelines for ethical design of H-IoT devices and data protocols

Privacy and Health Information Technology

The increased use of health information technology (health IT) is a common element of nearly every health reform proposal because it has the potential to decrease costs, improve health outcomes, coordinate care, and improve public health. However, it raises concerns about security and privacy of medical information. This paper examines some of the “gaps” in privacy protections that arise out of the current federal health privacy standard, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, the main federal law which governs the use and disclosure of health information. Additionally, it puts forth a range of possible solutions, accompanied by arguments for and against each. The solutions provide some options for strengthening the current legal framework of privacy protections in order to build public trust in health IT and facilitate its use for health reform. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) enacted in February 2009 includes a number of changes to HIPAA and its regulations, and those changes are clearly noted among the list of solutions (and ARRA is indicated in the Executive Summary and paper where the Act has a relevant provision)