Case Study Discussion
Health Information Management (HIM) professionals face a variety of legal scenarios on a daily basis. The response to these scenarios must be prompt and appropriate.
Choose one of the three scenarios below and compose your thoughts on how you would handle the situation as the manager of the health information services department. Be sure to indicate which scenario you are responding to in your post.
- Suppose you are the HIM Director at a large medical center that offers inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care at several sites in one state. Your medical center has announced that it will acquire a facility offering similar services in a neighboring state. The laws and regulations governing the retention and destruction of health records differ between these states.
How does the lack of a consistent set of laws and regulations on these two matters affects the institution you serve, and outline the steps you would take to deal with the situation?
- Describe a situation where the handling of super-confidential information (such as HIV, genetic testing, substance abuse, or behavioral therapy) could lead to a HIPAA violation. How would you ensure compliance?
- Suppose you are the HIM Director at General Medical Center. An FBI agent has arrived at your office with a search warrant in hand. He asks to speak with you about the health center’s records. How should you respond?
