l injury to the patient due to stigma (Brent, 1997, 257).
An additional protection of confidentiality is testimonial privilege. This protection is not absolute and must yield to other concerns in some cases such as state's requirement that certain diseases (infectious diseases) or injuries (child abuse or neglect, gun shot wounds) be reported to prevent further injury. Written, informed consent to release information is the best defense against an allegation of a breach of confidentiality (Brent, 1997, 258).
If a home health care nurse makes an unauthorized release of patient information or records, the results can include an invasion of privacy, a breach of confidentiality, and a suit against the nurse and the agency. Protection can be maintained when established mechanisms for written patient consent for disclosure of information and records is a part of the care; exceptions to the mandate of maintaining privacy and confidentiality need to be included. The nursing staff must be familiar with its own state's nurse practice act and the particular rules and regulations mandating nurse-patient confidentiality and privacy (Brent, 1997, 257-258).
Particular care is needed regarding online health care information. When access control to records is manual and procedural, technological security tools are needed to serve key functions. Availability and integrity include the insurance of accurate updated information. Accountability ensures that health providers provide responsible documentation. Perimeter definition refers to controlling boundaries of trusted access. Role/need-limited access enables needed access only and provides otherwise limited access to information. Comprehensibility and control ensure that record owners, data stewards, and patients understand and have control over aspects of information security and access (Rindfleisch, 1997, 96).
While access may cause harm, providers, researchers, and publi...