Biomaterial Database

Privacy and confidentiality of patient information. Challenges for nursing. 1994

D K Milholland

American Nurses Association, Washington, DC.

The growing interest in automating healthcare information and the emergence of the computer-based patient record-keeping have brought the issues of privacy and confidentiality to the fore-front. Nurse executives and nurse managers need to be sensitive to these issues, as never before, to guide their staffs and to prevent harm. Technology makes sensitive information more accessible to more people, with resulting benefits and dangers. The author presents a nursing ethical framework for discussing patient privacy and confidentiality issues, and highlights specific issues that reflect nursing's unique viewpoints.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008499	Medical Records	Recording of pertinent information concerning patient's illness or illnesses.	Health Diaries,Medical Transcription,Records, Medical,Transcription, Medical,Diaries, Health,Diary, Health,Health Diary,Medical Record,Medical Transcriptions,Record, Medical,Transcriptions, Medical
D009737	Nursing Records	Data recorded by nurses concerning the nursing care given to the patient, including judgment of the patient's progress.	Records, Nursing,Nursing Record,Record, Nursing
D010344	Patient Advocacy	Promotion and protection of the rights of patients, frequently through a legal process.	Patient Ombudsmen,Patient Representatives,Clinical Ombudsman,Patient Ombudsman,Advocacy, Patient,Ombudsman, Clinical,Ombudsman, Patient,Ombudsmen, Patient,Patient Representative,Representative, Patient,Representatives, Patient
D010355	Patient Identification Systems	Organized procedures for establishing patient identity, including use of bracelets, etc.	Patient Tracking,Identification System, Patient,Identification Systems, Patient,Patient Identification System,Patient Trackings,System, Patient Identification,Systems, Patient Identification,Tracking, Patient,Trackings, Patient
D003219	Confidentiality	The privacy of information and its protection against unauthorized disclosure.	Patient Data Privacy,Privacy of Patient Data,Privileged Communication,Confidential Information,Secrecy,Communication, Privileged,Communications, Privileged,Data Privacy, Patient,Information, Confidential,Privacy, Patient Data,Privileged Communications
D004993	Ethics, Nursing	The principles of proper professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of nurses themselves, their patients, and their fellow practitioners, as well as their actions in the care of patients and in relations with their families.	Nursing Ethics,Ethic, Nursing,Nursing Ethic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016494	Computer Security	Protective measures against unauthorized access to or interference with computer operating systems, telecommunications, or accompanying data; especially the modification, deletion, destruction, or release of data in computers. It includes methods of forestalling interference by computer viruses or computer hackers aiming to compromise stored data.	Computer Viruses,Data Protection,Data Security,Compromising of Data,Computer Hackers,Computer Worms,Cyber Security,Cybersecurity,Data Encryption,Information Protection,Computer Hacker,Computer Virus,Computer Worm,Data Compromising,Data Encryptions,Encryption, Data,Encryptions, Data,Hacker, Computer,Hackers, Computer,Protection, Data,Protection, Information,Security, Computer,Security, Cyber,Security, Data,Virus, Computer,Viruses, Computer,Worm, Computer,Worms, Computer
D016743	Mental Competency	The ability to understand the nature and effect of the act in which the individual is engaged. (From Black's Law Dictionary, 6th ed).	Competency, Mental,Incompetency, Mental,Competence,Incompetence, Mental,Mental Competence,Competence, Mental,Mental Incompetence,Mental Incompetency
D017041	Ethics Committees	Committees established by professional societies, health facilities, or other institutions to consider decisions that have bioethical implications. The role of these committees may include consultation, education, mediation, and/or review of policies and practices. Committees that consider the ethical dimensions of patient care are ETHICS COMMITTEES, CLINICAL; committees established to protect the welfare of research subjects are ETHICS COMMITTEES, RESEARCH.	Institutional Ethics Committees,Regional Ethics Committees,Committee, Ethics,Committee, Institutional Ethics,Committee, Regional Ethics,Committees, Ethics,Committees, Institutional Ethics,Committees, Regional Ethics,Ethics Committee,Ethics Committee, Institutional,Ethics Committee, Regional,Ethics Committees, Institutional,Ethics Committees, Regional,Institutional Ethics Committee,Regional Ethics Committee