General Surgery Coding Alert - 2011 Issue 31
Patient Privacy: Avoid These HIPAA Land Mines Involving Your Practioners' Cell Phones
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Article Overview
This article explains how everyday mobile device use can create patient privacy and security risks for medical practices. It focuses on HIPAA-related concerns involving texting, email, lost or stolen phones, image capture, and staff policies, while also noting the role of state law and breach notification considerations. The content is relevant for physicians, practice managers, compliance staff, and anyone responsible for safeguarding protected health information in routine communications and photography.
Why This Topic Matters
Mobile device misuse can expose protected health information and create compliance, privacy, and breach-notification risks for a practice. Understanding the article helps readers assess common communication and camera-related workflows against HIPAA expectations and internal policy needs.
Article Sections
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Ensure the Safety of Emails and Texts
Discusses common mobile communication scenarios in clinical practice and the need to consider privacy and security requirements for electronic messaging. It also addresses state law considerations and general safeguards for handling patient information on mobile devices.
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A Picture May Be Worth Thousands of Dollars
Reviews privacy concerns related to using mobile device cameras in medical environments and the need for policies, training, and controlled use of images. It also discusses general safeguards for patient and staff photography in the workplace.
What You Will Learn
- How mobile phone use can create privacy and security concerns in healthcare settings
- Why texting and email practices should be reviewed for HIPAA and state law considerations
- How camera use on mobile devices can affect patient privacy in a clinical environment
- What kinds of internal policies and training are commonly discussed for staff mobile device use
- Why lost, stolen, or shared devices can increase the risk of unauthorized access to patient information
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Practice managers
- Compliance officers
- Healthcare administrators
- Medical office staff
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