...elements in the work of healthcare professionals. Ethical and legal issues may arise if providers fail to properly handle the protected health information of patients. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 established guidelines for maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of patient data. The guidelines include the procedures that should be followed for the disposal of protected health information. This paper will be concerned with an article on the disposal of protected health information that was published in the June 1, 2011 issue of Managed Care Outlook. In the article, Niedzwiecki (2011) discusses the conditions under which it is appropriate to shred documents that contain protected health information. Niedzwiecki (2011) focuses on the problem of what should be done with paper originals after a patient’s private information has been placed in an electronic format. The basic solution to this problem is to shred sensitive paper documents before disposing of them. However, there is more to this issue, because some paper documents do not need to be disposed of and still others should not be disposed of. Therefore, as Niedzwiecki (2011) proposes, healthcare organizations should have a clearly stated policy regarding when documents should be shredded and when they should not be shredded. In supporting this argument, Niedzwiecki (2011) refers to the legal requirements that are imposed by the HIPAA. The article includes a web address where the reader...
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...of money on healthcare. In fact, the GDP percentage spent on health care is outrageous percentage of GDP spent on health care. As this number rapidly nearing rises and nears a record high twenty percent. For this reason,, there is are reasonsis evidence to supportbelieve that there are several flaws in the our current system. The problem has escalated at such a rate that there is no longer a question of “if” we address the rising health care costs, but “how” we handle them. Many other Several other countries sustain a more productiverewarding health care system in terms of preventive and curative health services, family planning, nutrition activities and emergency aid while maintaining a lower health care cost per capita (Davidson)at a fraction of the cost of America’s. In order to bring this spending in line with other countries, the United States must be willing to make sacrifices in fields such as insurance, pharmaceuticals, and research among healthcare institutions. heathcare research. This has proven to be a very difficult issue to address due to a longn extensive list of ethical issues within the systemdifferences among American citizens. It has been generally accepted that American’s spending could be brought in line withdown to the level of these other countries if the distribution of medical goods was rationed at rate of 50%the rationing of medical goods was cut at a rate of roughly 50%. In order to provide the most constructive provisions to healthcare expenditureIn...
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...Present day healthcare system focused on preventive care and wellness has become highly advanced which makes every nurse responsible to achieve maximum level of education, skills and power of knowledge to meet the challenges. Continuous research in nursing and the evidence obtained from the research serves to support the nursing care. Continuing education helps nurses to keep track of all the developments taking place in the field, trace advances in technology and care, have a better understanding of all current rules and regulations, beware of all ethical and legal aspects of nursing as envisaged by various boards of nursing and other authorities in the field of healthcare. In this paper, I would like to explain the position statement of career development in nursing. It is only through proper and continued education that nurses can provide patients better care, assess and report what is best for the patient and always seek ways to improve patient outcome. In order to achieve the best results, nurses need to identify the core knowledge, scientific principles, skills and attitudes of nursing practice to improve healthcare system (International Council of Nurses, 2007). Therefore career development must be achieved by integrating care through our scholastic system, giving nurses opportunity to learn, grow and move up the ladder, making them capable of leading from the forefront. Career Development in Nursing Ever changing technology and progresses in concepts of care based on research...
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...· Executive summary………..………………………………………..3 · Introduction…………………………………………….…………...5 · Section 1- Environment/ Industry analysis….................…………....5 · Section 2- Company Description………….....……………………..7 · Section 3- Financial analysis………………...………………….…..8 · Section 4- Marketing Strategy………………………...……...…...10 · Section 5- Use of Information Technology………..………...…….11 · Section 6- Ethical/ Environmental Issues….....………….………..12 · Conclusion…………………………................................................13 Executive Summary In 2001 Abbott was assessed by Jim Collins in his book “Good to Great” and deemed a worthy investment. Eleven years later Abbott has sustained that high level of performance as a producer in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. This performance can be attributed to their consistent financial growth over its competitors. The company competes among the healthcare industry producing pharmaceuticals, medical devices and nutritional products. Abbott is among several large companies that have dominated the industry for about half a century. Abbott has experienced a consistent increase in revenue over the past five years. Due to recent acquisitions, the company has had increasing operating costs, but stable profits. Notable financial risks of the company are their smaller product pipeline and smaller cash cushion compared to competitors. Abbott Labs marketing branch is what brings...
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...Week 5: Confidentiality and Bioethical Issues (Nov 20 - Nov 27) Welcome to Week 5! This week, we discuss issues related to bioethics. Since the time of Hippocrates, “First Do No Harm” has been the medical mandate. It is the basic concept that drives all of the codes of ethics for the health professions. The concept is one of the first you learn in school. From this comes the duty to make ethical decisions “in the best interest of the patient.” While all medical professionals would agree that this is the goal, not all would agree on exactly what IS the best interest of the patient in a given situation. Healthcare workers—and specifically physicians—work hard to save lives. Many times, death is seen as a medical failure. Health professionals go to great lengths to preserve life with the assumption that saving the life—at all costs—is in the best interest of all patients. In the past, if that left the patient paralyzed or in a vegetative coma, it was still success - they were alive. Today, this assumption is being reconsidered as patients themselves demand to decide for themselves what is in their own best interest. Of particular interest is Oregon law which states, "an adult who is capable and has been determined by the attending doctor to be suffering from a terminal disease, and who has voluntarily expressed his or her wish to die, may make a written request for medication for the purpose of ending his or her life in a humane and dignified manner." In short, the patient can...
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...traveling small-town doctor with his iconic black bag. The doc would make his rounds to the folks who were unable to come to his office. This image that comes to mind is based on stories we have heard or the movies we have seen. Concierge doctor’s services were more popular in the past, but they are making a comeback in our current culture. Concierge medicine is said to be for those who have plenty of money, but not a great deal of extra time. This type of medical service definitely has its benefits. The doctor travels to patient; the patient is seen without a wait, more face-to-face time with the doctor, and better all-around care. Unfortunately, along with the positive benefits of concierge medicine there are also some unfair aspects, which is why this is considered to be one of today’s new social justice issues. Although concierge medicine has been around awhile and has been a beneficial practice, it has just recently started creating legal and ethical issues. There are many benefits of concierge medicine, same day appointments, 24/7 access to the doctor via email, and house calls when the patient is too ill to travel. Beyond the added convenience, patients benefit from additional attention when it comes to discussing preventive health care and individual lifestyle issues. Due to time constraints, these issues are often pushed aside in traditional medical practices (“Concierge Medicine 101…) I feel that there is a definite need for concierge medicine in today’s fast paces...
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...Sarah Kate Powell Health 2030- Section 002 Lee Crandall 19 November 2015 The Issues With Individuals In Society Having The Responsibility To Pay For Insurance That Covers The Cost of Contraceptives When It’s Against The Individual’s Personal Or Religious Beliefs Introduction: The term “ethics” can be derived from the Greek term ethos that means habit, custom, disposition or character. Ethics is defined as “a system of moral principals and a branch of philosophy which defines what is good for the individual and society. “ (Ethics, 2014) It is a collection of concepts acquired from philosophies, cultures, and religions. Some of these ethical concepts include the principals of autonomy, beneficence and social justice. Ethics provide a moral pathway in which individuals pick to find their way out of difficult issues. Individuals have many different derived concepts, or moral pathways, controversies that cause ethical dilemmas can become apparent. Such dilemmas can be seen in the health care delivery system of the United States and the policies that are enforced within it. One ethical argument in particular that poses issues and controversy regards society having the responsibility to provide or fund insurance that covers the cost of contraceptives when it is against the individual’s personal or religious beliefs. Ethical Dilemma/ Policy Issue: The term “conscientious objection” is the refusal to perform a legal role or responsibility because of personal beliefs. Conscientious...
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...,We Cannot Go Back It is inevitable, everyone has done it. It is as much a part of the human condition as any of life’s endeavors. As in the poem I Go Back to May 1937 by Sharon Olds; we sometimes explore the idea of altering our fate through changing the past. What if we could change our fate, or even just ensure a better future for your off-spring? Each of us possesses genetic material that is built upon a code that makes every organism unique. The technology to alter our genetic make-up is getting closer by the minute. I am referring to The Human Genome Project. What is a genome and what is this project you ask? The National Institute of Health or NHI defines a genome as: A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism. In humans, a copy of the entire genome—more than 3 billion DNA base pairs—is contained in all cells that have a nucleus. Basically, it is a map of how our DNA is assembled. DNA is a compound that is and the NHI gives this definition of DNA, “DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA.” There are four kinds of DNA and depending on how they are arranged, defines your genetic make-up. This arrangement forms a map of sorts, and this map is the genome. Ever since DNA was discovered in 1953, scientists have wanted to make the human genome...
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...Ethics Analysis Paper Ethical Issues Related to Organ Donations In 1983 Dr H Barry Jacobs, a physician from Virginia, whose medical license had been revoked after a conviction for Medicare mail-fraud, founded International Kidney Exchange, Ltd. He sent a brochure to 7,500 American hospitals offering to broker contracts between patients with end-stage-renal-disease and persons willing to sell one kidney. His enterprise never got off the ground, but Dr Jacobs did spark an ethical debate that resulted in hearings before a congressional committee headed by Albert Gore, Jr., then a representative from the state of Tennessee. The offensive proposal for kidney sales led to the National Organ Transplant Act to become law in the United States in 1984. An ethical consensus developed around the world that there should be no monetary compensation for transplantable organs, either from living or deceased persons. Unfortunately, the altruistic supply of organs has been much less than adequate, and thousands of patients die each year waiting for organ transplantation. As the number of patients who die waiting for organ transplants continues to rise, more families are taking the quest for an organ into their own hands, and raising tough ethical questions in the process. In July, 2004 Todd Krampitz, 32, of Houston, Texas received a liver transplant after publicizing his plight through billboards, e-mails, a Web site and an extensive media campaign. He suffered from...
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...Healthcare technology in the U.S. is considered to be among the most sophisticated in the world. It not only leads the world in the production of medical technologies it is the medical technology’s largest consumer. Our first class medical institutions serve as the foundation for very sophisticated technology, advanced care, and innovation. In 2012 the U.S. market value for healthcare technology exceeded 110 billion which represents about 38% of the entire healthcare technology industry. Healthcare technology in the U.S. also represents a significant number of employment opportunities. In 2010 the healthcare industry employed approximately 14% of the workforce and generates approximately $1.75 trillion of revenue. Employment projections for the next 10 years are expected to grow more than 40% (SelectUSA, 2013). To many Americans that is a good news story. However, there is a side of the story that is not all good. The same technology that we produce and use, that contributes to an increase in life expectancy, is leading to increased demand on the healthcare system, primarily from the growing population of senior citizens. This leads to a shrinking supply of healthcare resources to treat the very people who need it. This creates a situation where many people go untreated. Insurance companies, both public and private, are required to solicit bids to get the required healthcare resources to treat their customers. Given that many in our society can afford to pay a good price...
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...airline reservations, to online banking, and social media are linking friends and families all over the world. Consumers have access to over 1.5 million apps available in the Apple App Store and Google Play (Warman, 2013). Rochester General Health Systems (RGH) is a local hospital found in Rochester, NY. It is one of three hospitals that residents of Monroe County have access to within a seventeen mile stretch. Now that most hospitals have integrated from the use of paper based patient charts to electronic medical records (EMR), healthcare providers have reached levels of patient care that were not available before. With EMR, patient charts are never lost. Providers are able to send a copy very fast to any office around the world. Doctors can field questions from the patient or another doctor with the virtual chart available for review in a few seconds (Friedman, 2008). All this sound pretty advanced and a huge step for furthering patient care. The Future of Hospitals The implications of the web on the future of the hospital business are amazing. With the use of the internet, the hospitals are launching forward with state of the art technology and care. With the use of the internet there is an increase in the use of webinars. Webinars are online educational presentations during which participating viewers can submit questions and comment (Merriam-Webster). Webinars can also be used for meetings, trainings, lectures, events and presentations online. Webinars offers a...
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...The Limits on Genetic Testing There are many arguments out there that need have the concerns of many Americans including the one that will be presented today. The biggest one in the world of science and technology is possibly genetic testing. Genetic testing has so many possibilities in the today’s society that there are legal, social, and ethical problems that allow it to stay at bay. There is fine line that should be drawn when it comes to genetic testing especially when it comes to healthcare and when it leads to vanity. Genetic testing examines a person's genetic code by using a sample of blood or other body fluids/tissues, for health or medical identification purposes; it’s also a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins (Genetic Testing). The Human Genome Project, human cloning and stem cell research are all part of this group. Genetic cloning is the reproduction of a new organism that is, at all stages of development, genetically virtually identical to a currently existing, or previously existing, being (Clone). Stem cell is an unspecialized cell that gives rise to a specific specialized cell, such as a blood cell, and they have the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells (Stem Cell). The Human Genome Project was an international research effort to determine the sequence of the human genome and identify the genes that it contains. The Human Genome Project formally began in 1990...
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...Healthcare E-Commerce: Connecting with Patients J. Scott Joslyn, PharmD, MBA ABSTRACT Electronically connecting with patients is a challenging frontier at which technical hurdles are probably exceeded by political, legal, and other barriers. The rise of consumerism, however, compels a response focused more on revenue and strategic advantage than on pure cost savings. Among the difficulties faced by providers is choosing among various models of connectivity and component function. Emerging models include “freefloating” personal medical records largely independent of the office-based physician, systems with compatible and intertwined physician and consumer relationships using an application services provider office practice system, and systems that connect patients and providers through e-mail, office triage, prescription refills, scheduling, and so on. This article discusses these and other combinations of technology that significantly overcome the barriers involved and that may be woven together to provide solutions uniquely suited to various competitive situations. KEYWORDS • Consumerism • Patient-provider relationship • Data ownership • Application service providers • Time and cost savings The Internet has created both opportunities and threats that providers of all stripes must eventually confront to remain viable businesses in the new economy. Although business-to-business (B2B) innovations offer great hope in reducing costs and providing other efficiencies, electronically connecting...
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... | |The ethical obligations of the health information management (HIM) professional include the safeguarding of privacy and security of health information; disclosure of | |health information; development, use, and maintenance of health information systems and health information; and ensuring the accessibility and integrity of health | |information. | |Healthcare consumers are increasingly concerned about security and the potential loss of privacy and the inability to control how their personal health information is | |used and disclosed. Core health information issues include what information should be collected; how the information should be handled, who should have access to the | |information, under what conditions the information should be disclosed, how the information is retained and when it is no longer needed, and how is it disposed of in a| |confidential manner. All of the core health information issues are performed in compliance with state and federal regulations, and employer policies and procedures. | |Ethical obligations are central to the professional's responsibility, regardless of the employment site or the method of collection, storage, and security of...
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...Organizational Responsibility and Current Health Care Issues Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Health Law and Ethics Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act History “After the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in March 2010, numerous lawsuits challenging various provisions of the momentous health care reform law were filed in the federal courts. Many of those cases were dismissed, but some federal appellate courts issued decisions on the merits of the law. In November 2011, the United States Supreme Court agreed to consider several issues related to the constitutionality of the ACA arising out of two cases in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals” (The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation). Headline news featured the highly controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also referred to as Obamacare, during the week of 25-June-2012. In response to health care crises in the United States, PPACA advanced to the forefront. “[W]e must also address the crushing cost of health care. This is a cost that now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes. In the last eight years, premiums have grown four times faster than wages. And in each of these years, one million more Americans have lost their health insurance. It is one of the major reasons why small businesses close their doors and corporations ship jobs overseas. And...
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