Security and privacy have always played a role in medicine. The health care arena has likewise always been aware of the patient's right to protect his or her medical information.
Until the information age, it was just "assumed" that medical personnel would be vigilant
about keeping that information secure and as confidential as possible. Enter the Internet
age, where, with one click of a button, confidential information can travel the width and
breadth of the universe. With that and a mobile America, the United States government determined that health care portability and confidentiality should be mandated and regulated.
Whether working as a medical transcriptionist in the hospital setting, clinic, or physician's office, as an employee or independent contractor, HIPAA regulations will definitely impact
the way we do our jobs. As MTs we are entrusted with patient information, even if just for a
short time, and our job is to treat that information as we would want our own personal
medical information treated.
Be aware of patients� rights with regard to confidentiality of medical information, stay
abreast of federal and state regulations and the changes that may take place, and respect
the confidence that has been placed in your competence as a health care professional.
For further information, AAMT offers a brochure on the HIPAA regulations. AAMT is at www.aamt.org on the Internet.
Bonnie S. Bakal, CMT
President, AAMT, 2001 and 2002