Scenario Ending and Recommendations
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Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology *
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HPS 2112
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Health Science
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
docx
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2
Uploaded by erickuria55
Scenario Ending and Recommendations
A reflection on the supposed scenario and the actual pandemic shows that the COVID-19
pandemic was a globally tough period that affected various sectors differently. However,
regardless of the disparities in the effects, the healthcare sector was the worst hit. Challenges
such as high workload and staff shortage, as well as government regulations, called for the
healthcare sector to approach the overall issue differently in ensuring patient care meets
expectations. The need for a new approach was most apparent in that COVID-19 highlighted the
need to focus on the modernization of HIPPA regulations. The drive behind this was the embrace
of telehealth in caring for patients in the comfort of their homes (Gajarawala & Pelkowski,
2021). The only issue with telehealth was the increased sharing of patient data, which increased
the likelihood of HIPAA violation. For example, considering COVID-19 was a global pandemic
and one of a kind, most people were quite perplexed by its continued prevalence.
Based on the above understanding, the postulated scenario was of a nurse working in the
unit caring for COVID-19 patients. Unconsciously, the nurse took a picture of a very sick patient
suffering from the disease. The photo was to be used to sensitize her friends and family members
about the seriousness of the disease. Unfortunately, the photograph captured the patient’s
personal details. The friend, in an attempt to sensitize more people, shared the image on her
social media platforms with a description of the basic symptoms and the treatment being
administered to help these individuals. Though the nurse did not share the image online, the fact
that she had captured it meant she had violated patient privacy, more so because their personal
details were captured therein. The specifics of this violation are that the nurse had taken the
picture without the patient’s permission and shared their private information without consent.
Evidently, using technology may be considered beneficial, especially during the COVID-
19 pandemic, as it increases sensitization concerning the disease (Vargo et al., 2020). However,
based on this case, technology use was uncalled for as it resulted in HIPAA violation of patient
privacy and security. Such a violation is considered a criminal offense, which may result in
heavy fines or the nurse losing their job. By focusing on the nurse’s supposed reason for
capturing the photo, she may have violated HIPAA regulations, but such occurrences need to be
effectively approached. First, the nurse needed to report themselves and own up to their action.
Instead of firing her a penalty and compulsory training would be recommendable. Educating
healthcare providers at the time would ensure the emergence of the pandemic did not push
healthcare providers to violate HIPAA laws and regulations. The training should emphasize
observing HIPAA and HITECH rules and regulations always.
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