A press release from AHIMA via PRNewswire:
A new report that features four leading experts in health information management in an extended roundtable discussion on key issues related to the privacy and security of health information-and ways in which the industry may best address those issues — is now available.
“Online, on Message, on Duty: Privacy Experts Share Their Challenges” is the report (http://www.ahima.org/emerging_issues/2008PrivacyRoundtable.pdf) that will be released in conjunction with the American Health Information Management Association’s 5th annual Health Information Privacy and Security Week (April 13-19) established to raise public and professional awareness of issues related to the privacy and security of patient health information.
The roundtable discussion offers myriad insights on the entire range of related issues with four common themes emerging from the fast-paced discussion:
1. It is essential for the HIM industry to better educate health professionals on how to prevent breaches of the privacy of health information.
2. It is imperative that healthcare privacy officers work continually to resolve challenges such as differing federal and state laws and emerging issues, including medical identity theft.
3. Communication and collaboration are essential elements in making sure an organization’s privacy and security functions operate effectively in sync.
4. Preparation, combined with a proactive approach, are strong recommendations given CMS’s development of a program to investigate breach allegations.
Full press release here.