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Running Header: ADMINISTRATIVE ETHICS PAPER Administrative Ethics Paper Shana S. White Susan Morgan HCS/335 University of Phoenix Administrative Ethics Paper In the health care administration system there are different types of problems that may arise. Problem such as in-house restructuring, organizing, and also ethical problems that may or may not be associated with patient care. These types of problems may cause any health care administrator to become diligent in writing, rewriting, and/or implanting new policies and procedures to counteract any growing problems within the health care facility.
Moreover, such problem solving techniques includes understanding what the problem is, possible solutions for solving the problem, and implementing new policies to make sure that the problems do not arise and affect any other part of the health care organization. Furthermore, as with any organization as it grows the problems become more apparent, so in a health care system there is no difference.
Specifically, a problem with patient information is a massive problem in regards to patient privacy in all health care systems due to the growing information sharing on the internet, new technology, and by different health care providers; it is essential that all patient’s medical records stay private. Patient Privacy Additionally, patient privacy is essential in any health care organization. The reason is because privacy is important for any one that is having any medical procedure, diagnosis, or treatment being performed.
Having privacy helps protect the patient from any stigma or possible retaliation for any treatment that the patient was given and at the time during or after treatment. Moreover, if patient information is shared with unauthorized people then the patient may be subject to a misuse of their pertinent information in which they have in trusted the health care establishment with. This is why the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPAA Law) was enacted in 1996 (Whatishippa. org, 2001-2011).
The law is currently use to gives patients control over the use of their health information, defines boundaries for the use/disclosure of health records by covered entities, establishes national-level standards that healthcare providers must comply with, helps to limit the use of PHI and minimizes chances of its inappropriate disclosure, strictly investigates compliance-related issues and holds violators accountable with civil or criminal penalties for violating the privacy of an individual’s PHI , supports the cause of disclosing PHI without individual consent for individual healthcare needs, public benefit and national interests (Whatishippa. org, 2001-2011) ( Harris,??2011). Populations Most Affected The population that is mostly affected by the misuse of patient information is not just a certain group of people, but any and everyone can be a target of a person peering in your medical files without any knowledge of the person being in your medical records. In this day in age people believe that just because their medical files are locked down in the office of their physician then they are staff from anyone trying to physically steal their medical records. Of course this is as far from the truth as a person wants to admit.
There are people who will try to hack (gain unauthorized access to computer data) just to not only get information or medical record information, but to gain access to patient’s date of birth, address, and social security numbers. Ethical Principles The ethical principles that are inherent in this issue are confidentiality (Principle that binds the practitioner to hold in strict confidence those things learned about a patient in the course of medical practice), principle of double effect (when an action can have two effects: one that is morally good or desirable and one that is not), and moral duty (act or course of action that is required by one on the basis of moral position). These ethical principles relates to the privacy of patient information because each one of these principles have an association with this particular principle.
For example taking a closer look at the confidentiality principle, if this principle is broken with a breach of confidentiality and because someone has hacked or taken control of someone’s medical records then that breaks and violates HIPPA and it makes the patient skeptical about continuing to use that particular clinic (Whatishippa. org, 2001-2011). Legal Issues Furthermore, when there are breaches in confidentiality in any health care organization there are many legal actions that need to be taken to insure that the patient is guarded from any unnecessary liability that is associated with their information being stolen. The doctor’s office is responsible for letting the patient’s know about any unlawful look or exhortation of information from their medical files.
A report should be filed with HIPPA and to the other agencies that may help with any other problems that the patient’s may become associated with the breech on confidentiality (Harris,??2011). Encountering Managerial Responsibilities The managerial responsibilities a healthcare administrator might encounter regarding the privacy issue is being able to let the doctor’s or staff know the possible actions that need to taken to make sure that patient is protected from any unnecessary hazards regarding breech of privacy. There also need to be an evaluation of the security system that is on the health care organization computer and what if any other protection that maybe need to ensure that the breech in patient information does not happen again.
Also there should be a staff meeting to update the staff on any changes of information regarding policies and procedures regard said matter (Harris,??2011). Preferred Resolutions The preferred resolution for this problem is to evaluate what went wrong with the security system in regards to keeping patient information safe. The health care administrator should update the security software that is out dated on the computer and add new firewalls that will protect patients from any other breech in privacy (Harris,??2011). It is extremely important for the system to be updated to ensure that the problem will not arise again. Informing the patient’s of a new system that was put into place to help protect information from any other problems in regards to the issue of rivacy and any necessary changes that the office will go through in response to the said issue (National Center for Biotechnology Information, U. S. National Library of Medicine,??1999-2011). In conclusion, there are many different matters that may arise for a health care administrator which may require the administrator to make massive change within the healthcare organization. When such a matter as this arise it is necessary for administrator to act swiftly and make sure all the proper procedures are complete; making sure the organization continues to run smoothly despite any negativity in regards to patient information, organization, or implementing policies within the health care system.
Taking an overall look at the privacy matter one could understand how important it is for any health care organization to take all precautions and necessary steps to protect their patient’s information at any given time (National Center for Biotechnology Information, U. S. National Library of Medicine,??1999-2011). References National Center for Biotechnology Information, U. S. National Library of Medicine. (1999- 2011). Administrative, Clinical, and Ethical Issues . Retrieved from http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmed/12032979 Harris, M. (2011). Knowing Whoa??????s Messing with Your Medical Records. CBS Interactive Inc.. Retrieved from http://moneywatch. bnet. com/spending/blog/consumer- reporter/knowing-who-is-messing-with-your-medical-records/1129/ Whatishippa. org . (2001-2011). What is Hippa?. Retrieved from http://whatishipaa. org/