09 Jul Operational Considerations and Organizational Approaches for Managing Health Information Technology

Operational Considerations and Organizational Approaches for Managing Health Information Technology

Health care data is extremely sensitive in nature, and ensuring that patient information is kept secure and private should be a high priority for every health care organization. There are numerous technological tools available to provide the necessary system safeguards for electronic data. However, it is up to the individual organization to develop a security program that protects the privacy of the patient information that is collected, transmitted, and stored in its information systems, and that enables the organization to identify potential risks and to respond to system breaches as quickly and effectively as possible.

To prepare for this Discussion, read Case Study 17, “Breaching the Security of an Internet Patient Portal” on page 507 in your course text, Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management.

By Day 4, post a comprehensive response to the following:

• As a member of the crisis team put in place to respond to this security breach, what are two administrative, physical, and/or technical security safeguards that you would recommend be put in place? Why and how would you go about doing so?
• What approach to information technology governance do you think would work best in addressing this situation? Why do you think that that approach would work better than other approaches? Explain your reasoning.

Note: For your Week 7 Discussion, answer only the course-specific questions listed above. DO NOT refer to or answer any of the discussion questions that are included in your course text as part of a numbered list at the end of the case study, as they are not applicable to the course-specific Discussion Assignment.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 6, respond to at least one of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Expand on the colleague’s posting with additional insight and resources.
• Offer polite disagreement or critique, supported with evidence.

In addition, you may respond as follows:

• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience..
• Make a suggestion or comment that guides or facilitates the discussion.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of your colleagues’ comments. You are not required to post these final insights.