Fair Use and Securing Network Technology

Nurse practitioners deal with private information, especially regarding patient data, thus requiring them to maintain a secure network of information. Healthcare organizations have a responsibility in developing policies that assist nurses in maintaining a safe system of information noting that all patient data is confidential and protected by law. Such policies may include guidance on how nurses should collect, use, and handle protected health information. The protection of patient information can only be achieved if healthcare organizations provide the required technical, physical, and administrative safeguards that enhance the integrity, confidentiality, and security of the electronic protected health information ( Cerrato, 2016) . Further, healthcare organizations can play an integral role in guaranteeing patient information security by developing guidelines elaborating the situations that protected information can be disclosed. Such instructions should put in place reasonable safeguards with procedures that protect the privacy of individual patients.

The view that health organizations have a role to play in assisting nurses is advised by the fact that ensuring the security of information presents unique challenges that range from ethical considerations, regulatory compliance, and ensuring the quality of care. Also, ensuring the security of information, for example, from external risks requires resources which require the input of healthcare organizations. Additionally, even though nurses play a vital role in protecting patient information, healthcare organizations have to formulate policies through which all caregivers commit to in efforts to create the first line of defense in protecting confidential patient information ( Cerrato, 2016). As a nurse practitioner, our organization has been playing a significant role in ensuring that nurses maintain a secure network of information by developing policies that are in line with the HIPAA Security Rule. Further, the organization has created a framework within which nurses work to provide patient information to insurance companies in efforts to enhance information security.

Reference

Cerrato, P. (2016). Regulations Governing Protected Health Information.  Protecting Patient Information , 19-32. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-804392-9.00003-4