Patients are made to give their medical information and history, but how and who controls it? Patients have a fear of their medical/ health history records of being tampered, misplaced, hacked, and seen by other staff members. It comes down to when patients want to see or release their medical records, why can’t they easily see them. Health care organizations and facilities have specific rules and have to follow HIPAA law. If more communication within the health care facility and since government mandates is allowing more sharing it’s becoming a divided paper and electronic medical record world. It’s needs to be more provider and patients needing to share their medical records and about releasing them. The fear of sharing is a problem for many patients when hospitals and dental offices need to communicate and enforce the policies so awareness is made. A lot of time and effort would need to be made with sharing medical records with patients at home or work, and it could be borderline breaking the law. HIPAA is enforced for a reason, and my dental office has patients who want their privacy and want their dental records to be available when they want it. It’s an endless battle when infinite people can access their bank account, social media account, shopping accounts, etc., with ease online, but medical …show more content…
Patients worry about their medical records and health history being compromised by hackers, and other staff knowing their health conditions. According to (Rosenthal, 2014), some providers contend that releasing information might somehow compromise patient privacy and confidentiality concerns laid out in HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This is another issue patient’s face, and it’s the same with my dental office. New patients are especially resistant to giving out their medical/ health history and having their dental records sent over because of fear of what we might find out. From both dental offices, I’ve experienced regular and new patients being scared of mentioning an issue with their mouth, health condition, or teeth. When the dentist comes in the room and another assistant of hygienist comes in to help or switch out, patients feel even more embarrassed because another employee knows their health and mouth situation. It happens from time to time, when dental assistants and hygienists talk behind the scenes of patient’s teeth, gums, mouth, and health conditions. As long the conversation doesn’t leave the office, then it’s allowed is the rule. (Rosenthal, 2014), states internet security systems have greatly improved, and it is no longer legal for insurers to reject applicants for pre-existing conditions. This