As a dental affected person, you’ve the precise to anticipate that your private info shall be stored confidential. This implies it doesn’t fall into the unsuitable arms and isn’t used for any functions apart from those who have your consent. In actual fact, affected person privateness is so vital that it’s protected by legislation, particularly via the Well being Insurance coverage Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
What’s HIPAA and what does it require of dentists?
HIPAA is a federal legislation that units nationwide requirements for the safety of well being info. Protected well being info, sometimes called PHI, is any info in your well being file that can be utilized to determine you, together with earlier or present diagnoses, together with private info like your title, deal with or social safety quantity.
HIPAA legislation applies to all healthcare suppliers, together with dentists. Because the American Dental Affiliation explains, HIPAA requires dentists to take steps to guard the privateness of their sufferers’ well being info. These steps embody:
- Getting your written consent earlier than utilizing or sharing your well being info for any goal apart from therapy, fee or healthcare operations.
- Offering you with a replica of your privateness coverage.
- Providing you with entry to your well being info upon request and in a well timed method.
- Preserving your well being info confidential and safe. This consists of not posting your private well being info on public boards, even when we’re responding to a overview you’ve left about your expertise.
What are you able to do to guard your affected person privateness?
There are a number of issues you are able to do to guard your privateness as a dental affected person. These embody:
- Studying your dentist’s privateness coverage.
- Asking your dentist questions on how your well being info shall be used.
- Understanding who’s allowed to obtain your well being info.
- Signing solely these consent varieties that you simply absolutely perceive and agree with.
- Verifying the supply earlier than sharing any private well being info.
- Refraining from posting personal well being info on on-line message boards or social media.
As dental suppliers, prioritizing affected person privateness helps preserve a relationship with you that’s constructed on belief. In case you have any questions on how your personal well being info is getting used and guarded, don’t hesitate to contact our staff!
