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The learner describes the legal and ethical implications related to informatics in the healthcare environment. The use of informatics in healthcare has legal and ethical implications that must be carefully considered. One of the main legal issues is the protection of patient privacy and confidential...

The learner describes the legal and ethical implications related to informatics in the healthcare environment. The use of informatics in healthcare has legal and ethical implications that must be carefully considered. One of the main legal issues is the protection of patient privacy and confidentiality. Health information is highly sensitive, and healthcare professionals have a legal obligation to protect it from unauthorized access or disclosure. This is particularly important in the age of electronic health records, which can be easily accessed by anyone with the right credentials. Another legal issue is the potential for medical malpractice. Healthcare professionals must ensure that the information they are using to make decisions about patient care is accurate and up-to-date. Failure to do so can result in serious harm to patients and potential legal action. From an ethical standpoint, there are concerns about the potential for bias in algorithms or decision-making tools used in healthcare. These tools may inadvertently discriminate against certain populations, leading to disparities in care. It is important to ensure that these tools are developed and used in a way that is fair and equitable for all patients. Additionally, the use of informatics in healthcare raises questions about the role of healthcare professionals. As technology continues to automate many tasks, there is concern that some healthcare professionals may become obsolete. It is important to find a balance between the use of technology and the need for human interaction and decision-making in healthcare. Overall, the legal and ethical implications of informatics in healthcare are complex and multifaceted. It is important for healthcare professionals to be aware of these implications and to ensure that they are using technology in a way that is both legal and ethical. Lesson 8: Legal Implications for Health Informatics Objectives Identify laws and policies related to health informatics. Describe responsibilities and legal implications for using health informatics. There are several laws and policies related to health informatics, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the HITECH Act. These laws aim to protect the privacy and security of patient health information by regulating its use and disclosure. As for the responsibilities and legal implications for using health informatics, healthcare professionals and organizations have a duty to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of patient information. They must adhere to the laws and policies related to health informatics, as well as any other applicable regulations. Failure to comply with these laws and policies can result in severe legal consequences, including fines and penalties. Additionally, healthcare professionals and organizations may face civil lawsuits and damage to their reputation if patient information is breached or mishandled. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that all health informatics practices are in line with legal requirements and best practices for data security and privacy. Policy, Legislation, and Regulation 1. Describe policies in your current work environment that protects patient privacy. 2. Define the following terms and provide examples related to health informatics. Policy, Legislation, Regulation: Policy refers to a set of guidelines or rules that are established by an organization to govern its operations. In the context of health informatics, policies may be created to ensure that patient data is kept confidential and secure. For example, a healthcare provider may have a policy that requires employees to change their passwords every 90 days to maintain data security. Legislation refers to laws that are created by a governing body, such as a legislative branch of government. In the context of health informatics, legislation may be created to regulate how patient data is collected, stored, and shared. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a piece of legislation that governs how healthcare providers must protect patient data. Regulation refers to rules that are established by government agencies to ensure compliance with laws and policies. In the context of health informatics, regulations may be created to enforce laws related to patient data protection. For example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has established regulations that require healthcare providers to report data breaches that involve patient data. 3. Place in order and describe legislation that impacted health information technology from 1996-present. • HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) • MIPPA (Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008) • ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009) • HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health of 2009) • ACA (Affordable Care Act of 2010) • MACRA of 2015 (Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015) The following is a list of legislation that impacted health information technology from 1996 to present in order: 1. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) HIPAA is a federal law that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information. HIPAA has impacted the way medical records and other sensitive health information is stored and shared. 2. MIPPA (Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008) MIPPA is a law that expanded the use of electronic health records (EHRs) among healthcare providers. MIPPA also incentivized the use of EHRs among healthcare providers through the Meaningful Use Program. 3. ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) ARRA is a law that provides funding for health information technology initiatives, including the development of a nationwide health information exchange (HIE) infrastructure. 4. HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health of 2009) HITECH is a law that provides financial incentives to healthcare providers who implement EHRs and meet certain requirements related to the use of EHRs. HITECH also includes provisions for protecting patient privacy and security related to EHRs. 5. ACA (Affordable Care Act of 2010) ACA is a law that includes provisions related to healthcare reform, including the establishment of state-based health insurance marketplaces. ACA also includes provisions related to the use of EHRs among healthcare providers. 6. MACRA of 2015 (Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015) MACRA is a law that changes the way Medicare pays healthcare providers for services. MACRA also includes provisions related to the use of EHRs among healthcare providers. 4. Complete the table below Act Written acronym Year passed Example of the impact of health information technology in your workplace or experience in a healthcare environment HIPAA Example: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 1996 Development of policies to keep information secure like requiring 2- factor authentication or automatic sign-off. ACA MACRA ARRA HITECH 12 21St Century Cures Act (Cures Act) N/A FDASIA PSQIA Act | Written acronym | Year passed | Example of impact of health information technology in your. workplace or experience in a healthcare environment During my time working in a hospital, I witnessed firsthand the positive impact of health information technology on patient care. With electronic health records, healthcare providers were able to quickly access a patient's medical history, lab results, and other important information at the touch of a button. This allowed for more efficient and accurate diagnoses, as well as streamlined communication between healthcare providers. Additionally, the use of telemedicine technology allowed for remote consultations with specialists, which improved access to care for patients in rural areas. Overall, the implementation of health information technology greatly improved the quality of care and patient outcomes in the hospital setting Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act | HIPAA | 1996 | Development of policies to keep information secure like requiring 2-factor authentication or automatic sign-off. Affordable Care Act | ACA | N/A | Implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) and health information exchange (HIE) systems. Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 | MACRA | 2015 | Encouragement of healthcare providers to adopt EHRs and promote interoperability of healthcare information systems. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act | ARRA | 2009 | Funding for the implementation of EHRs and HIE systems. Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act | HITECH | 2009 | Promotion of the use of EHRs and HIE systems through funding and incentives. 21st Century Cures Act | N/A | 2016 | Focus on promoting the use of technology and innovation in healthcare delivery. Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act | FDASIA | 2012 | Emphasis on the safety and security of healthcare information systems and medical devices. Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act | PSQIA | 2005 | Encouragement of reporting and analysis of healthcare errors and adverse events to improve patient safety.

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