In the extended home care industry, we see and hear confidential information every day. Eventually, we become quite comfortable with handling patient’s sensitive data privately and appropriately. Quality home care service providers cannot forget how important it is to keep this information private. That is why home healthcare agencies such as Best Home Care review the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regularly and identify opportunities to better maintain privacy. Here are three reminders for personal care aids to review.
- Discard Important Papers Correctly: Do you cut up expired credit cards and use old account statements for kindling? Don’t slack when it comes to taking similar precautions at work. Confidential documents should always be torn or shredded when they are no longer needed.
- Drop the Inappropriate Discussions: Think twice before venting about a patient to another employee while roaming the halls or taking an elevator ride. Even if you don’t mention names, the discussion can still cast you or your home healthcare employer in a negative light.
- Develop Secure Practices Online: Technology is (usually) quick and efficient but not always secure. Double check emails for the dreaded “reply all” mistake and only include patient names when necessary. If you are not the intended recipient of a message, notify the sender and delete it asap.
Best Home Care hopes that all caregivers will incorporate these reminders into their daily home care plans. Confidentiality is one of the core duties of home care specialists. It is essential in retaining the bond of trust between in home care providers and individuals.
Contact Best Home Care today to learn about our superior PCA services and how we continually work to maintain the trust between our home care aides and those they serve.
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