Understanding the HIPAA Basics for Peace of Mind
Before you ever learn the first thing about the human body in any medical science, there’s one thing you should learn first: HIPAA.
The law guides most of the healthcare industry and is responsible for making sure patients stay safe as they’re treated. Through HIPAA, patients know they can trust their providers when they need them.
However, not every healthcare professional understands even HIPAA basics. Some medical professionals think it’s okay to talk about patients with nurses and other staff. Some may even post about their patients on social media, violating the law.
HIPAA doesn’t just guarantee that patients stay safe while they get treatment. It also acts as a cornerstone of trust. Because of HIPAA, medical professionals can treat their patients without worrying about getting in trouble. It allows people to act intelligently and make decisions independently, keeping the industry efficient.
Keep reading below to learn more about HIPAA and how important it is.
It’s Vital That You Understand HIPAA Basics
By following HIPAA, you can perform medicine with peace of mind about your job. And the golden rule of HIPAA is simple: keep information private. You should treat everything you learn about patients like a dear secret they told you and guard it.
Most of the time, HIPAA is why much medical paperwork is done on paper. It’s easier to control who has access to paper files, and there is less risk that paper files may fall into the wrong hands. You can’t hack a filing cabinet, after all.
Securing files digitally is usually something for administrators and tech professionals to worry about. Medical professionals don’t need to worry about that.
Not Knowing the Basics Can Cost You More Than Your Job
When you first start practicing medicine as a professional, you usually go through an NPI registration and are given a number. This number is a unique identifier associated with your name, specialty, location, and other basic facts. It helps people find you if you need help.
Violating HIPAA can cost you this number, it can cost you your license, and it can cost you your whole career. You may even face lawsuits for violating HIPAA, and the costs can be extraordinary. Make sure you follow the law to stay safe and keep your career.
HIPAA Is Meant to Protect Patients and Hospitals
HIPAA doesn’t just protect patients. It also protects hospitals. Organizations that make it a point to follow the law eventually build a reputation for themselves as trustworthy and reliable. With this reputation, businesses may be able to edge out the competition in the market and bring on more clients.
Following HIPAA doesn’t just help individuals — it also helps their organization. So, hospitals and offices should make it a point to ensure everybody understands HIPAA and how they can follow it.
Every Medical Professional Should Know HIPAA
It doesn’t matter what kind of medical professional you are — you should know HIPAA basics. Patients could also learn a little about HIPAA since they will go into treatment knowing what to expect. They’ll be aware if something goes wrong and can do something about it.
And to learn more about HIPAA and your rights in the medical profession, keep reading our website!
I'm primarily a dad and a husband, then I live. I've been a freelance writer and editor since 2014, specializing in finance, casino, sports, and esports niches. I'm an expert in checking the small print on any T&C site. You can trust me as an expert, especially when it comes to financing and gambling products.
