| What is HIPAA
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What is HIPAA?
- HIPAA is an acronym that stands for the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act of 1996. Title II of this act contains provisions
for "Administrative Simplification":
- Privacy -- effective April 14, 2003
- Security -- effective April 2005
- Standards for electronic transmission of certain administrative and
financial transactions -- effective October 2003
The privacy provisions have led to numerous changes in how health
information will be used and released by the health center and physician
offices/clinics. Hospitals/clinics everywhere have been busy implementing
new procedures to comply with these new rules. However, the changes being
implemented will not affect patient care.
One change patients at SRHC will notice is that when they first come to the
health center, they will be given a document called "Notice of Privacy
Practices". This notice tells patients how their health information will be
used, the circumstances under which it will be disclosed, and the rights
patients have relating to their health information.
Because of these rules, the public may
also notice some changes. For example, members of the public will have to
ask for a patient by name in order to obtain their room number or
information about them. At the time of patient registration, patients will
have the option of determining whether or not to be included in the patient
directory:
- I want my name included in the patient
directory. I understand that my name, location in the hospital, and
general condition may be provided to any person asking about me by name
(including phone inquiries), and to members of the clergy (including
religious affiliation), my family, individuals involved in my health care,
for disaster relief effort, or as required by law.
- I do not want my name included in the patient directory. I
understand mail addressed to me will be returned and any flowers sent to
me will not be delivered. Any person, including visitors, asking for me by
name, including outside telephone calls will not be forwarded and will be
told, "There is no one by that name listed in our patient directory."
In addition, patients will be asked during their nursing assessment for
the names and phone numbers of up to three "contacts" with whom the health
center and providers can verbally discuss your health information.
Patients will also notice that there is one department in the health
center that will provide answers to questions about their health
information. This is the "Privacy Contact Department" and is located in the
Department of Health Information Management at Salina Regional Health
Center.
The privacy rules are a big step for health centers and clinics. Anyone
can obtain a copy of Salina Regional Health Center's Notice of Privacy
Practices by logging onto our website at
www.srhc.com or asking for one at the registration desk.
Privacy Contact Department 452-7313
E-mail: privacy@srhc.com
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