Question

As a pharmacy technician you have access to the private information of many patients. How important is confidentiality? Give some examples of how reviewing a patient profile or prescription could turn into a breach of privacy. What are some procedures in place that protect you and patients?

Answer 1

Confidentiality is very criticial especially to healthcare professionals. When they took oath, they are aware that they have the duty to protect the interests of their patients, and that includes confidentiality.

Some examples of reviewing patient profile that may be a breach of privacy may be any of the following: gossiping patient information with other employees, leaving health forms containing patient information mindlessly somewhere where others could see it, accessing patient information from home computers, texting patient health information.

Existent procedures are already effective through laws. For example, every healthcare professional must be knowledgeable of HIPAA, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Hence, training is really very important.