The Privacy of Your Personal Health Information
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), established in 1996 was put in place to protect your medical information. What is means, physicians, nurses, medical staff or medical records departments can only talk to you about your medical welfare and status.
HIPPA establishes and requires any entity involved in handling your medical information
“To comply with the HIPAA Security Rule, all covered entities must:
Ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all e-PHI
Detect and safeguard against anticipated threats to the security of the information
Protect against anticipated impermissible uses or disclosures that are not allowed by the rule
Certify compliance by their workforce” (quoting from part of the HIPPA Act)
MEDICAI states “Imagine you need swift access to your medical records to ensure the best possible care. Perhaps you’re coordinating with a new specialist, handling insurance matters, or moving to a different city.
In these moments, seamless and secure sharing of health information becomes crucial. This is where the ROI concept comes into play. In medical terms, ROI stands for Release of Information.
Release of Information balances the need for accessible health data with protecting patient privacy. It also ensures that your sensitive medical information is shared appropriately, securely, and in compliance with legal standards.
A release of information form authorizes healthcare providers to disclose a patient’s health information to specified parties. This form is a critical tool in the release of information process, as it ensures that the patient consents to sharing their information.
The form outlines the details of the disclosure, including what information will be shared, with whom, and for what purpose. A copy of the completed form should also be kept on file for documentation and reference purposes.”
Now, this can be a two-edged sword. The HIPPA protects you and makes private your medical information. Even to the point of refusing to speak with your family or loved ones. If you want specific people in your life to know your medical status, you must make sure a release of information is signed naming who will be given access to this information. Otherwise known as a ROI. When meeting a medical provider for the first time, make sure filling out a ROI is top of your list. In an emergency, if there are no such documents in place, no one from your family or friend group will gain information and help ensure proper treatment for you.
A ROI is used in addition to an Advance Directive, MPOA or a Living Will. It is can be accessed quickly if already on file with the provider.