The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was mandated in 2003 to ensure patient confidentiality, and to give patients more control over their personal healthcare information and who has access to this information. Originally, written consent was required for the disclosure of all patient information. As one might imagine, this sometimes delayed timely care, and the act was revised. With the idea of keeping patient care as a priority, healthcare providers are now only required to notify patients of their privacy policy and to make a reasonable effort to obtain written acknowledgement of this notification.
HIPPA regulations bind all healthcare providers, including students, both legally and ethically. While practicing in a clinical setting, students should only access the patient’s medical record for the information needed to provide safe and effective care. Students must omit the patient’s name, room number, date of birth, medical record number, and other identifiable demographic information for any materials he or she prepares, shares or submits.