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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Shannon Houser, PhD¹, Howard Houser, PhD², and Richard Shewchuk, PhD². (1) Department of Health Services Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Webb 510, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294, 205-975-7506, shouser@uab.edu, (2) Health Services Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Webb 568, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294

Background: The HIPAA Privacy Rule (HIPAA), became effective April 14, 2003, and had a great impact on release of patient information by health facilities. Few studies have assessed barriers related to release of patient information by health facilities which emerged since implementation of the HIPAA.

Method: Two structured Nominal Group Technique (NGT) meetings were conducted in October, 2005 with directors of Health Information Management Departments from health facilities in the United States. The participants were asked to identify barriers arising as a result of HIPAA regarding the release of patient information. Subsequently, the identified items were ranked by participants based on their perception of relevance and importance.

Results: Twenty-five non-redundant ranked barriers were identified by two groups of participants from total of 70 self-selected items. The highest level of agreed barriers were: increase the public's misunderstanding about release of patient information; lack an umbrella policy or regulation defining infractions and enforcement which allows individual institutions to make their own interpretations; challenge to health professional in controlling safeguards related to release of information given the transition to electronic records and the increased involvement of IT; difficult to follow the rules and to find qualified staff who can make decisions regarding release of information with confidence.

Conclusion: HIPAA created great challenges to health information management professionals regarding release of patient information. More clarifications of the law, standardized instructions, and extensive training of health care workers should be addressed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Assess impact of HIPAA Privacy Rule to release of patient information by health facilities.
• Identify barriers and problems emerged post-HIPAA Privacy Rule to release of patient information.

Keywords: Health Care Politics, Health Information

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation