Administration Ethics Paper
Crystal Smith
Monday October 28, 2013
HCS/335
Christine Singel

Patient confidentiality is an important issue within the healthcare profession. Patient confidentiality was an important issue that in the year of 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act which is also called the (HIPPA), was passed in an effect to make health care more effect and available for Americans who receives health benefits. When the HIPPA was produced; they also produced the HIPPA Privacy Rule. The HIPPA Privacy Rule was being enforced, because confidential patient information was being shifted from one medical facility to the next. HIPPA protects an individual’s health information or his /her demographic information. It is also called “protected health information” or “PHI”. HIPPA protects patient’s information such as your name, dates relating to the patients, birthdates, medical treatment, admission discharge dates and dates of death. They also involved telephone numbers, and addresses, social security numbers, and any other unique identifying numbers you may encounter obtaining yourself. Before entering into the medical field, whether it is in a Hospital Facility or just a doctor’s office; there are important rules and regulations that one must abide by. Those rules are as followed: 1. one person cannot discuss a patient medical care with someone who is not directly related to the patient medical care group. 2. You cannot discuss the patient’s progress with anyone but the patient without getting permission from the patient or their legal guardian first. 3. You cannot display information about the patients to family and friends. 4. And you cannot read patient medical information that belongs to someone who you are not caring for. These important rules and regulation of the HIPPA are for those that work in the Health Plans,