Health Information Management

Facility uncovers inappropriate access

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, October 2, 2006

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The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) will discipline 39 employees of Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center for violating privacy policies.

The employees of the Brooklyn, NY-based facility had inappropriately accessed one patient's records, an HHC release says. Although HHC did not identify the patient, it indicated that curiousity may have been a motive. "High-profile patients can tempt curious staff to access their records even when they are not involved with the patient's care," said HHC President Alan D. Aviles.

The employees-including physicians, nurses, technicians, and clerical staff-face suspensions ranging from 30-60 days. HHC will also require that they undergo additional training before returning to work. The organization discovered the violations while auditing access logs.



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