Skip to contents
In This Issue:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), effective April 14, requires all health care organizations to implement new privacy standards protecting the confidentiality, privacy and integrity of individually identifiable health information.
This means that BWH patients will receive a privacy notice upon registration (along with their consent to treat form). The privacy notice will inform patients of their new and expanded rights regarding their health information under HIPAA. The mandate may result in increased requests on behalf of patients to access their health information; amend their existing medical record; restrict communication involving their medical information; access the documentation detailing when and to what party their health information was disclosed; or place a complaint of a violation of their privacy.
To better prepare for such changes and to be ready to answer patient questions, BWH’s workforce (including employees, medical staff and volunteers) is required to complete HIPAA training. The training will also help staff to identify what is considered a breech of patient confidentiality once HIPAA goes into effect. The blue card given at the completion of the training must be presented to the employee’s supervisor or manager. Managers and supervisors are asked to be prompt in entering the training verification for their employees into PeopleSoft so BWH has an accurate account of the number of individuals who have completed the mandatory training. Group training sessions will continue to be offered. However, staff who have not yet been trained are encouraged to check with their managers, as managers who have completed the mandatory HIPAA training are able to train other staff in their areas.
All of BWH’s workforce must be trained by April 14.
Look for more information on changes due to HIPAA in issues of Bulletin leading up to April 14.