Privacy and confidentiality are important to the development of trust between physicians and patients. Maintaining patient, student, and employee information is not only an issue of morality, but the privacy of medical records is protected by law.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.
As an academic medical center, UTMB is privileged to provide patient care and as an employee of UTMB chances are you may be exposed to confidential information- information that should remain private. Whether it is medical, employee, student,
research, financial information, or high-profile cases, all involved in health care have an obligation to maintain the privacy and security of patient records.
Any unauthorized access will be subject to disciplinary action. HIPAA violations will result
in termination.UTMB Health is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients and keeping their health information secure. Our patients’ privacy and the security of their medical information remain a top priority for UTMB Health and we strive
to maintain an environment of trust between health professionals and patients.
For additional resources please refer to the UTMB Standards of Conduct Guide:
Working with Integrity, HIPAA Privacy Rules, The Institutional Handbook of Operating Procedures (IHOP) Policy 06.02.00 Maintaining Patient Confidentiality through
the Appropriate Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI) and Annex F. Guidelines for Appropriate Use of the Internet, Electronic Networking and Other Media in the GME Institutional Handbook.