NURS FPX 4045 Assignment 2 Protected Health Information

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4045 Nursing Informatics: Managing Health Information and Technology

Prof. Name

Date

Protected Health Information (PHI) and HIPAA Regulations

Understanding Protected Health Information (PHI)

Protected Health Information (PHI) encompasses any personal or health-related data that can identify a patient. This includes, but is not limited to, names, addresses, birthdates, assessment records, prescribed medications, therapeutic plans, payment histories, and insurance details (Pool et al., 2024). Managing PHI effectively is crucial, particularly in telehealth settings where digital transmission is frequent. Proper PHI handling builds patient trust and supports compliance with HIPAA regulations.

The Role of HIPAA in PHI Protection

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was instituted to maintain the confidentiality and safety of PHI in the United States (Lindsey et al., 2025). It empowers patients to control the access and sharing of their health data. HIPAA comprises several rules that collectively protect health information during digital healthcare interactions.

HIPAA Rule	Purpose	Example of Violation
Security Rule	Requires electronic health data (EHI) to be protected from threats and misuse	Using an unencrypted platform for telehealth, exposing PHI to cyber intrusions
Privacy Rule	Prohibits sharing PHI without patient consent; allows patients more control	Discussing patient details in public during telehealth, risking unauthorized access
Confidentiality Rule	Ensures EHI is not misused during information transfer	Sharing patient information through unsecure social media, breaching privacy

Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Social Media Risks

Cooperation for Safeguarding EHI

The secure exchange of Electronic Health Information (EHI) during telehealth services depends on collaborative efforts across departments. A multidisciplinary team—including clinicians, administrators, cybersecurity staff, and IT professionals—strengthens data protection through a unified approach (Pool et al., 2023). Each group plays a vital role:

Stakeholder	Role in EHI Protection
Clinical Staff	Participate in cybersecurity training, use encrypted platforms, and follow data handling protocols
Administrative Leaders	Develop and enforce privacy policies, allocate resources for tech security
Cybersecurity Teams	Monitor access, run security audits, and address system vulnerabilities
Technical Personnel	Build secure infrastructure (e.g., firewalls, SSL), ensuring secure data exchange

Institutions like Cleveland Clinic have adopted a comprehensive, cross-functional model to ensure that technological advancements do not compromise patient data security (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).

Consequences of Social Media Violations

Healthcare professionals must remain vigilant when using social media, especially while offering remote care. Sharing patient data, even inadvertently, may result in termination, legal action, license revocation, or imprisonment (Moore & Frye, 2020). Several notable violations include:

Case	Outcome
Nurse assistant posted video of a patient with Alzheimer’s (2016)	Immediate dismissal
Oral surgeon posted PHI on a public review site (2019)	Fined $10,000
Nurse uploaded a patient video online	One-month jail sentence
Green Ridge Behavioral Healthcare shared PHI of 14,000 individuals	Fined $40,000

Best Practices for Telehealth & Social Media Compliance

What Not to Do on Social Media

To prevent data breaches and legal issues, healthcare workers should follow these social media guidelines:

• Do not share patient details, images, or care narratives online.
  
  
• Avoid sending friend requests to patients.
  
  
• Never transmit PHI via social media platforms.
  
  
• Refrain from discussing workplace incidents publicly.
  
  
• Stay logged out of personal accounts during work hours.
  
  
• Report any observed data breach immediately.
  
  

Effective Strategies for Protecting Medical Data

Various strategies and best practices can be adopted to improve data security in telehealth:

Security Measure	Details	Example Institution
Robust Security Systems	Use of encryption technologies like SSL and firewalls to protect PHI	Mayo Clinic uses SSL to secure patient information (Mayo Clinic, 2024)
Safety Audits	Regular evaluations of security practices and platforms; input from staff and patients	MGH conducts internal audits to enhance privacy (MGH, n.d.)
Cybersecurity Workshops	Staff training to enhance awareness of cyber threats and HIPAA compliance	Clinical staff attend training sessions regularly

HIPAA-Aligned Social Media Strategy

To reduce the likelihood of privacy violations on social media platforms, healthcare organizations should:

• Provide continuous training on HIPAA regulations and social media risks (Alder, 2025).
  
  
• Implement strict internal policies prohibiting the sharing of sensitive data online.
  
  
• Encourage secure, encrypted communication channels for professional interactions.
  
  
• Establish prompt reporting procedures for data breaches to minimize potential damage.
  
  

References

Alder, S. (2023). HIPAA and social media rules – Updated for 2023. The HIPAA Journal. https://www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-social-media/

Alder, S. (2023). HIPAA privacy rule – updated for 2023. The HIPAA Journal. https://www.hipaajournal.com/hipaa-privacy-rule/#:~:text=The%20HIPAA%20Rules%20are%20the,and%20availability%20of%20healthcare%20covered

NURS FPX 4045 Assignment 2 Protected Health Information

Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Holistic, multidisciplinary approach protects patient data and privacy. Cleveland Clinic.org. https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/holistic-multidisciplinary-approach-protects-patient-data-and-privacy/

Lindsey, D., Sniker, R., Travers, C., Budhwani, H., Richardson, M., Quisney, R., & Shukla, V. V. (2023). When HIPAA hurts: Legal barriers to texting may reinforce healthcare disparities and disenfranchise vulnerable patients. Journal of Perinatology, 45(2), 278–281. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-00805-5

Mayo Clinic. (2024). Privacy policy. Mayo Clinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-this-site/privacy-policy

MGH. (n.d.). Protect our patients’ privacy. Massachusetts General Hospital.org. https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/research/mgh-privacy-presentation.pdf

Moore, W., & Frye, S. (2020). Review of HIPAA, part 2: Infractions, rights, violations, and role for the imaging technologist. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 48(1), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.119.227827

NURS FPX 4045 Assignment 2 Protected Health Information

Pool, J., Akhlaghpour, S., Fatehi, F., & Burton-Jones, A. (2023). A systematic analysis of failures in protecting personal health data: A scoping review. International Journal of Information Management, 74, 102719–102719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2023.102719