Preventing Employees from Violating HIPAA

1. HIPAA Training
Preventing Employees from Violating HIPAA

2. Summary
Healthcare organizations have a responsibility to take
adequate steps to maintain patient confidentiality. One way
is to address specific issues and complaints but the most
effective method is preventing it in the first place through
continuous training on Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules. Continuous training is
one process of making HIPAA compliance a part of the
organization’s culture which helps employees embrace the
rules more freely (Keller, 2008)

3. Training
Using the problem of HIPAA violations at UCLA as an
example it is clear that more HIPAA training is needed. “The
lesson for all offices is to train employees on HITECH and on
new and existing Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules” (Salz, 2013, p. 43).
All employees must undergo training upon hire, annually,
and repeated again during staff meetings (weekly, biweekly,
or monthly). Repetition should be a key part of a successful
HIPAA training program.

4. Key Points
• Identify the rules, laws, and standards of HIPAA in the
training program. “It is important to remember that not all
employees have been trained in the guidelines and
protocols, even if they have worked for a long time in the
medical field” (Salz, 2013, p. 47).
• Identify clear consequences of violating HIPAA policies.
• Include a combination of different applications that allow
employees to practice what they have been taught
including written exercises, simulations, role playing, and a
question and answer session (Keller, 2008).

5. References
• Salz, T. (2013). HIPAA: Training critical to protect
patients, practice. Medical Economics, 90(18), 43-
44,47. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1443260994?ac
countid=32521
• Keller, D. (2008). Tune-up for trainers: Help employees
stay on top of their game. MLO: Medical Laboratory
Observer, 40(6), 40-43.