Digitally Created: HIPPA in a Digital Age

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This is a phrase shoved down the throats of everyone who works in my field. Because developmental disabilities are considered a medical issue, the individuals I serve are protected by HIPPA. What this means is that I can’t tell anyone the name of anybody who attend my programs. I also cannot show images of those who attend my program. I never cared because well, why would I go around talking about the people I served. However, when I started this class I had wanted to include them in my mobile story. The HIPPA officer stopped me at my job and she explained that I couldn’t. I asked why, and she presented me with a nice handout full of reasons. Essentially, digital media is something that can not be contained. Once something is on the Internet it is there forever. HIPPA breaches above a certain amount have to be presented to the federal government. Due to the very nature of the Internet, you can guarantee that at some point too many people will see it. All I can say is thank God I was stopped before committing a major breach.

Link to HIPPA information

I have included a link for anyone interested in this topic. Oh and remember, when it comes to HIPPA laws, what you don't know, CAN hurt you!

Photo from http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/

Ethics Statement

1. Unless otherwise stated, content on this blog is created by me. While some material may be used from other sources, all work will be credited to the original author.

2. Any comments or additions to the blog are done so at the author’s own risk. I am not responsible for the use of anything published to the blog. Google reserves the right to use any published work at their on discretion and such privacy protocol is beyond my control.

3. Any people who appear in any work have done so only after providing their full informed consent.

4. There will be no use of pirated audio on this blog; any audio will be legally purchased with all rights given to the artist.

5. It is my full intention to refrain from posting untruthful information. If any work is deemed a work of fiction, it will be noted. Likewise, all information published has been gathered through the use of other informational texts and to the best of my knowledge is truthful and accurate.

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Digitally Created

HIPPA in a Digital Age

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