Professionalism

1. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 1 Professionalism/Customer Service in the Health Environment Unit 5 Regulatory Issues: HIPAA and Communication, Standard Precautions Welcome to Unit 5 of the Professionalism and Customer Service in the Health Environment component. In this unit we will explore several important factors in the healthcare environment, HIPAA and Standard Precautions.Welcome to Unit 5 of the Professionalism and Customer Service in the Health Environment component. In this unit we will explore several important factors in the healthcare environment, HIPAA and Standard Precautions.

2. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 2 Unit 5: Objectives Characterize the importance of and guidelines associated with infection control. Relate protecting yourself and others with standard precautions Explain HIPAA and communication Our learning objectives for this unit are to: Characterize the importance of and guidelines associated with infection control. Relate protecting yourself and others with standard precautions Explain HIPAA and communication Let�s begin with Infection Control.Our learning objectives for this unit are to: Characterize the importance of and guidelines associated with infection control. Relate protecting yourself and others with standard precautions Explain HIPAA and communication Let�s begin with Infection Control.

3. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 3 Infection Control The goal of infection control is to prevent the spread of infection from you to others and to others from you You will be in the healthcare setting, where patients and their families will also be Patients in particular are more vulnerable to infection and will have more serious consequences Infection control is a serious issue in healthcare organizations. The goal of infection control is to prevent infections from being spread to you, patients and others. When you are working in the healthcare setting, such as a hospital or clinic is it important to understand that patients are often more vulnerable to infection than a healthy person and will have more serious consequences if they do become infected. Infection control is a serious issue in healthcare organizations. The goal of infection control is to prevent infections from being spread to you, patients and others. When you are working in the healthcare setting, such as a hospital or clinic is it important to understand that patients are often more vulnerable to infection than a healthy person and will have more serious consequences if they do become infected.

4. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 4 Infection Control Patient who contract an infection in the hospital are said to have an Hospital Acquired Condition (HAC) Insurers, such as Medicare and Medicaid do not reimburse hospitals for the cost of caring for a patient with an HAC HACs are also a quality measure for healthcare organizations Infections contracted by patients in the hospital are considered to be a Hospital Acquired Condition, an HAC. HACs are taken very seriously by healthcare organizations for several reasons, in addition to the impact on patients. HACs can be described as the fault and responsibility of the organization, in that they would not happen if proper procedures and protocols for infection control were observed. Because of this, insurers such as Medicaid and Medicare will not reimburse hospitals for the cost of caring for the patient with an HAC. The cost is absorbed by the organization. As a serious issue, HACs are also a quality measure for healthcare organizations and can affect their ability to gain or keep regulatory approval. Infections contracted by patients in the hospital are considered to be a Hospital Acquired Condition, an HAC. HACs are taken very seriously by healthcare organizations for several reasons, in addition to the impact on patients. HACs can be described as the fault and responsibility of the organization, in that they would not happen if proper procedures and protocols for infection control were observed. Because of this, insurers such as Medicaid and Medicare will not reimburse hospitals for the cost of caring for the patient with an HAC. The cost is absorbed by the organization. As a serious issue, HACs are also a quality measure for healthcare organizations and can affect their ability to gain or keep regulatory approval.

5. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 5 Infection Control Frequent hand washing is the most effective means of infection control in healthcare Proper technique is important for hand washing Be sure to take enough time, repeat the alphabet to yourself twice Be sure to wash all surfaces on your hands, nails and under rings The most effective means of controlling infection in healthcare has been shown to be frequent hand washing with alcohol gel or soap and water. Using the proper technique for hand washing ensures that you are cleansing your hands of bacteria. As you soap or gel your hands, repeat the alphabet to yourself twice to be sure you are taking enough time for the gel or soap to work. Also, be sure to wash all surfaces of your hands and nails, being careful to get under rings.The most effective means of controlling infection in healthcare has been shown to be frequent hand washing with alcohol gel or soap and water. Using the proper technique for hand washing ensures that you are cleansing your hands of bacteria. As you soap or gel your hands, repeat the alphabet to yourself twice to be sure you are taking enough time for the gel or soap to work. Also, be sure to wash all surfaces of your hands and nails, being careful to get under rings.

6. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 6 Standard Precautions Standard Precautions means: all human blood/body fluids are to be treated as if they have blood borne pathogens. If it�s wet and came from a human, you should never touch it. Call for a staff member to arrange cleanup. If you have an exposure, get help right away. Tell the staff and follow their directions Standard Precautions are the core of infection control. They are one of the procedures that are in place to avoid HACs and protect you, patients, and others in the healthcare environment. While you are in patient care areas, any and all human body fluids you may encounter should be treated as if they are infected. If a patient has vomited in a hallway, alert the staff rather than try to clean up yourself. If you have made contact with any human body fluids, tell the staff right away and follow their directions. Standard Precautions are the core of infection control. They are one of the procedures that are in place to avoid HACs and protect you, patients, and others in the healthcare environment. While you are in patient care areas, any and all human body fluids you may encounter should be treated as if they are infected. If a patient has vomited in a hallway, alert the staff rather than try to clean up yourself. If you have made contact with any human body fluids, tell the staff right away and follow their directions.

7. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 7 HIPAA The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was signed into United States law in 1996. It is a set of federal regulations with requirements that affect the privacy of healthcare information. Another important part of being a professional in the healthcare environment is HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act. HIPAA was signed into U.S. law in 1996 and it impacts professional communications because it contains rules that protect the privacy of patient data. Another important part of being a professional in the healthcare environment is HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act. HIPAA was signed into U.S. law in 1996 and it impacts professional communications because it contains rules that protect the privacy of patient data.

8. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 8 Important Components of HIPAA A Privacy Rule, which protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information, A Security Rule, which sets national standards for the security of electronic protected health information Confidentiality provisions of the Patient Safety Rule, which protect identifiable information being used to analyze patient safety events and improve patient safety. There are three important rules in HIPAA that very directly protect patient privacy. The privacy rule applies to individually identifiable data, The security rule sets standards for data security, The patient safety rule requires that any analyses performed on medical data is designed to protect patient privacyThere are three important rules in HIPAA that very directly protect patient privacy. The privacy rule applies to individually identifiable data, The security rule sets standards for data security, The patient safety rule requires that any analyses performed on medical data is designed to protect patient privacy

9. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 9 Important Components of HIPAA HIPAA also calls for civil and criminal penalties for not obeying the law. An individual and their employer can both be penalized with fines and possibly be put in jail. In the execution of your professional responsibilities, you will likely see or discuss actual patient data. There are several additional important components in HIPAA that you need to be aware of. Violating HIPAA can result in civil and criminal charges being brought against a person and an organization. The penalties include fines and possibly imprisonment. As you go about your professional duties, you will at times see or discuss specific patient data. There are several additional important components in HIPAA that you need to be aware of. Violating HIPAA can result in civil and criminal charges being brought against a person and an organization. The penalties include fines and possibly imprisonment. As you go about your professional duties, you will at times see or discuss specific patient data.

10. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 10 HIPAA and Communication The intent of HIPAA is to protect patient privacy and allow patients some control over their medical information. It is not meant to interfere with communications that are required to provide medical care. The intent of HIPAA, in addition to protecting patient privacy, is to give patients some degree of control over who can see their medical information. HIPAA is not intended to negatively impact communications in healthcare. The intent of HIPAA, in addition to protecting patient privacy, is to give patients some degree of control over who can see their medical information. HIPAA is not intended to negatively impact communications in healthcare.

11. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 11 Guidelines for Communication Information you learn at the hospital or clinic stays there So, with that in mind, let�s talk about a few guidelines to help you avoid problems. The first is that any patient information you learn in the hospital or clinic stays there. It is not appropriate to discuss it with friends or family outside your workplace.So, with that in mind, let�s talk about a few guidelines to help you avoid problems. The first is that any patient information you learn in the hospital or clinic stays there. It is not appropriate to discuss it with friends or family outside your workplace.

12. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 12 Guidelines for Communication Information you learn at the hospital or clinic stays there Patient information in all forms must be kept confidential, including electronic data and the spoken word It is important at all times to keep patient information confidential and to realize that this includes the spoken word. It is important at all times to keep patient information confidential and to realize that this includes the spoken word.

13. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 13 Guidelines for Communication Information you learn at the hospital or clinic stays there Patient information in all forms must be kept confidential, including electronic data and the spoken word Information about a patient is only shared with someone who has a need to know, to do their job HIPAA also requires that patient information be shared only with those who need to know in order to perform their professional responsibilities.HIPAA also requires that patient information be shared only with those who need to know in order to perform their professional responsibilities.

14. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 14 Guidelines for Communication Information you learn at the hospital or clinic stays there Patient information in all forms must be kept confidential, including electronic data and the spoken word Information about a patient is only shared with someone who has a need to know, to do their job Be aware of what you are saying, who you are talking to, where you are, and who might be listening So, always be aware: Of what you are saying Who you are saying it to Where you are Who might be able to overhear youSo, always be aware: Of what you are saying Who you are saying it to Where you are Who might be able to overhear you

15. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 15 Remember Be aware that in most organizations, inappropriately accessing patient data is an offense that will result in immediate termination from your job and possible criminal charges. Always remember that the penalties for violating the HIPAA rules include losing your job and possible criminal charges.Always remember that the penalties for violating the HIPAA rules include losing your job and possible criminal charges.

16. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 16 Summary HIPAA has clear rules on the communication of patient data Never share your computer password or access codes, log off when stepping away from your computer. De-identify any patient data that you are using to solve IT problems as much as possible. Be aware of your organizations specific policies on HIPAA and your professional role. In summary, remember that part of being a professional in the healthcare environment is understanding what regulations may impact what you can and cannot communicate. In summary, remember that part of being a professional in the healthcare environment is understanding what regulations may impact what you can and cannot communicate.

17. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 17 Summary HIPAA has clear rules on the communication of patient data Never share your computer password or access codes, log off when stepping away from your computer. De-identify any patient data that you are using to solve IT problems as much as possible. Be aware of your organizations specific policies on HIPAA and your professional role. Never give your computer access codes to anyone for any reason and be sure to log off your computer when stepping away from it.Never give your computer access codes to anyone for any reason and be sure to log off your computer when stepping away from it.

18. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 18 Summary HIPAA has clear rules on the communication of patient data Never share your computer password or access codes, log off when stepping away from your computer. De-identify any patient data that you are using to solve IT problems as much as possible. Be aware of your organizations specific policies on HIPAA and your professional role. Be sure to remove as much personally identifying information as possible from patient data that you are using to resolve IT problems. Be sure to remove as much personally identifying information as possible from patient data that you are using to resolve IT problems.

19. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 19 Summary HIPAA has clear rules on the communication of patient data Never share your computer password or access codes, log off when stepping away from your computer. De-identify any patient data that you are using to solve IT problems as much as possible. Be aware of your organizations specific policies on HIPAA and your professional role. Be sure that you are aware of and clearly understand your organizations specific policies on HIPAA and how it applies to your professional role.Be sure that you are aware of and clearly understand your organizations specific policies on HIPAA and how it applies to your professional role.

20. Component 16/Unit 5 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 20 Summary Effective Infection control Can help you avoid getting infections from others Can help others avoid getting infections from you Protect vulnerable patients from getting infections and being even more ill Protect the healthcare organization from risk Also, remember that infection control is everyone�s responsibility. Hand washing should be a regular part of your professional grooming to help prevent the spread of disease causing bacteria and possible harm to you, your co-workers, patients and the organization.Also, remember that infection control is everyone�s responsibility. Hand washing should be a regular part of your professional grooming to help prevent the spread of disease causing bacteria and possible harm to you, your co-workers, patients and the organization.