Problem
Two nurses post a selfie of themselves at the nursing station on Facebook. In the background are patient charts with clearly identifiable patient names on them.
i. What should the nurse do to protect and maintain PHI if a breach is suspected?
ii. What steps can health care facilities take to address and prevent potential breaches of this type?
iii. In this situation, which of the following actions could help the nurse ensure the future protection and maintenance of PHI?
iv. While there are no violations here, what could the nurse do to help ensure the protection and maintenance of PHI?
v. What steps could the health care facility take to address this type of breach and to prevent other similar breaches from occurring?
A nurse posts on Facebook or Instagram a selfie of herself and a patient in a wheelchair who is awaiting discharge. Underneath the photo is a caption that reads: "We're happy Mr. Brown is heading home for recovery from his open-heart surgery, although we're sad to see him go. His cheery smile brightened all our days at St Luke's hospital."
i. What should the nurse do to protect and maintain PHI if a breach is suspected?
ii. What steps can health care facilities take to address and prevent potential breaches of this type?
A nurse posts a selfie of himself in front of his health care setting. The name of the health care setting is in the background, but no other people are in the background. No patient information is visible. The caption underneath the picture says: "Made it through my first week of nursing in the pediatric intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital. Can't wait for Week 2."
i. While there are no violations here, what could the nurse do to help ensure the protection and maintenance of PHI?