General Forums >> Ask A Nurse >> Britney Chronicles
Britney Chronicles
156 posts back to top |
Posted about 5 years ago Hey today 13 people at UCLA Medical Center lost their jobs for peeking at Britney's medical records...Let's talk about this. |
135 posts back to top |
| Posted about 5 years ago My big concern is this: would the punishment have been as severe or as widespread if the records accessed had belonged to Bonnie Speer instead of Britney Spears? A HIPAA violation is a HIPAA violation. As medical professionals, as nurses, we are supposed to hold our patient's PHI in confidence, regardless of who they are - and that includes not peeking in on someone else's PHI without a reason for doing so. I just hope that UCLAMC does the same thing in every case across the board - otherwise it's hypocracy, and just as wrong - they're also singling out a patient b/c of who she is. Ted "The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." - Ayn Rand |
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| Posted about 5 years ago At the facility I work for most people (I know of one who wasn't) who are caught, are walked off the premesis immediately. I know of two that it happened to in my department alone. Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, worn out and screaming "Woo-hoo"!!! |
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| Posted about 5 years ago tdage, I'm sure they do, because all systems are monitored, it's an integral part of the programs. In a hospital situation, you can not access your own files without permission and you are fired for doing so. I've known of two nurses, who were summarily fired for accessing their own files and another for accessing the files of a parent. It, however was not a media frenzy. |
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156 posts back to top |
| Posted about 5 years ago Here is the hospital memo sent to all employees I think before Britney was admitted or right after: Excerpts from a memo sent by Carole A. Klove, chief compliance and privacy officer for UCLA Medical Sciences, to all UCLA Medical Center employees at 9:20 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2008: "Our patients' privacy and the security of their medical information continue to be a top concern for UCLA Health System. Ensuring the confidentiality of patient information is not only a commitment made to our patients but also directly impacts the patient experience as it comforts them to know that they can trust UCLA Health System to keep their medical information and Protected Health Information (PHI) safe. This year we are implementing additional safeguards for our patients, including a Privacy Code, which will allow patients to designate specific individuals to receive information from their care providers. "Each member of our workforce, which includes our physicians, faculty, employees, volunteers and students, is responsible to ensure that medical information is only accessed as required for treatment, for facilitating payment of a claim, or for supporting our health care operations, such as quality improvement. ... Please remember that any unauthorized access by a workforce member will be subject to disciplinary action, which could include termination." |
