Essentials of Health Information Systems and Technology, Research Paper Example

The increasing need for information security in the 21^st Century, the information age, necessitated the development of a structured technique of promoting health information technology through the reduction of medical errors, improvement of efficiency and the quality of care, and the provision of better information for physicians and patients. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) Act and the Health information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act formulate the foundation of healthcare information security.

Health Information Security and Privacy

The HIPAA is founded on the two major pillars; (1) the digitization of information for the seamless dissemination, and (2) the securing of all data pertaining to patients as well as physicians. The government holds a general standard that stipulates that all information should be protected relative to the risk associated with that information (Beaver, 2003). This standards is applied to personally identifiable information as well as federal records and information. This is embodies in the HIPAA Security Rule. The HIPAA the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulation, the HIPAA Security Rule and the HIPAA Privacy Rule all set the security and privacy standards required for al modern healthcare information systems (Balgorsky, 2014).

The HIPAA Security standards allow for the patient to have access to their medical information and even have the right to alter this information where a valid reason is given. The Health information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act defines the requirements for all the entities that manage healthcare information. These requirements stipulates the standards for the use of protected health information (PHI) (Magnuson & Fu, 2014). The HITECH Act essentially seeks to protect all information pertaining to patients’ medical records so as to ensure fair play within the healthcare system.

In conclusion, both the HIPAA Act and the HITECH act formulate a framework within which patient health information is collected, disseminated and handled. It ensures that all aspects of fair play are considered and patient information privacy and security is guaranteed. Healthcare information systems are required to adhere by the standards stipulated by these acts.

References

Balgorsky, J. A. (2014). Essentials of Health Information Systems and Technology. Sudbury: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Beaver, K. (2003). Healthcare Information Systems. Boca Raton: Auerbach Publications.

Magnuson, J. A., & Fu, P. C. (2014). Public Health Informatics and Information Systems. New York: Springer.