University Medical Center – Tucson is receiving intense media scrutiny as it cares for the victims of the January 8 shootings as well as its routine patient population. Despite this extra stress, it demonstrates successful administration of federal and state health care regulations with the termination of employees for breach of the hospital’s privacy policy.
According to the hospital statement posted January 12 none of the accessed information was released to the public. Even so, the policy is that no one other than those staff authorized to do so may access patient medical records. That policy also applies to contractors who are engaged by the hospital. Consequently, a hospital contractor terminated the employment of its nurse who also accessed patient information without authorization.
Patients have the right to the privacy of their personal healthcare information. Hospitals are required to enforce it. UMC-Tucson highlights how that works for both staff and contract employees.
