Indicators of Patient Information Confidentiality

In present times health care organizations gather patient's information electronically and on paper documents. The physical possession of the medical records is with the hospital but the patient is the logical possessor of the information in the record so any access to the record requires the patient's permission. The objective of this study was to identify the indicators of confidentiality in the hospitals, ShohadayeLenjan in Zarinashahr and Mohammad Rasoul Allah in Mobarake in Esfahan province. This practical research was a qualitative study. Research community was the two largest hospitals in Isfahan province, Mohammad Rasoul Allah in Mobarake and ShohadayeLanjan in ZarinShahr in 2013. A valid and universal checklist published by British Columbia Medical Association has been chosen as the data collecting process which contains 25 items in 6 domains. The validity of checklist approved by related professors, after translating and performing corrections. The required data was collected through interview and observation by the researchers. The required data was extracted, analyzed and compared. Principles of confidentiality related to printing, transfer, storage and revelation of the patient's information in the records were on the whole followed by both the hospitals. Policies related to confidentiality indicators in employee's domain were weak. In the studied hospitals there weren’t any notifications based on awareness of the patient towards him/her privacy and ways to access his/her information. Considering their work domain, the CIO (Chief Information Officer) and supervisors of the hospital, define users’ level of access and allocate an authenticated account in which they can change their password. None of the hospitals used technical processes’ and controls. In both the hospitals in order to ensure security in local network and preventing entrance of unauthenticated individuals the absence of suitable controls were visible. Considering the importance of implementing confidentiality indicators in relationship with patient's information, it's necessary to apply new procedures and processes in both the hospitals. The two hospitals assessed in this study had strengths and weaknesses. Therefor considering the important points related to ensuring security and confidentiality of patient's information is necessary.