Hello Professor and Class,
My understanding of telehealth is that, the nurse calls the patient and provide them with triage, discuss results etc. “telehealth is the general term used to describe healthcare services delivered utilizing electronic media” (Hebda, 2019). Telehealth provides the opportunity for the patients to receive their results wherever they are. There was a time when I wanted to work as a telehealth nurse, because I was attracted to the fact that it seems like I could work from home. I was mostly concerned about the privacy of the patients. How can you be sure that you were talking to the correct person?
With telehealth, there must be certain protocols put in place to protect the privacy of the patients. The patients also need to know, that they can trust the information that is being provided to them. Professionalism must be maintained at all time (Association, 2005). Some ethical issues and privacy issues could be that, when providing information to a patient, you may unknowingly give information to someone else. When a patient is at his/her appointment with their doctor, there should be a code given to the patient that only the patient knows. The patient should be encouraged to not share this code, so that if a call is place to the patient, the healthcare worker should ask the patient for the code, so than tey can be comfortable that they are speaking to the right person. The Company that is employing for telehealth positions, but make sure that the person is qualified with the right credentials . I nurses are working in telehealth from home, they should make sure that the patient privacy is protected at all times. The computer should not be left open, since family members may get patient information.
References
Association, A. M. (2005). Ethical practice in telemedicine. Retrieved from AMA: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/ethics/et…
Hebda, T. H. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare professionals (6th ed). New York, NY: Pearson.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Telehealth is a growing field in healthcare that utilizes electronic media to deliver healthcare services to patients remotely. With the convenience and accessibility it offers, it is important to address concerns regarding patient privacy and trustworthiness of information provided. This response will discuss the protocols and measures that can be implemented to protect patient privacy in telehealth and ensure the authenticity of the communication.
Answer:
In telehealth, ensuring patient privacy is essential in maintaining trust and safeguarding confidential information. To address the concern of talking to the correct person, certain protocols can be put in place. One effective measure is the implementation of a patient-specific code during appointments. This code should only be known to the patient and should not be shared with anyone else, including family members.
During telehealth interactions, healthcare workers can ask the patient for this code to confirm their identity. This provides an added layer of verification and helps ensure that the communication is indeed taking place with the right person. Additionally, healthcare providers should be trained to verify patient identities through appropriate questioning and documentation.
To further protect patient privacy, telehealth nurses working from home should take necessary precautions. They should ensure that their computers are not left open and accessible to family members or anyone else who may inadvertently gain access to patient information. Maintaining professionalism and adhering to ethical guidelines is crucial in telehealth to maintain patient trust and confidence in the healthcare delivery system.
Healthcare organizations employing telehealth nurses should also conduct thorough background checks and verify their credentials to ensure that only qualified individuals are providing telehealth services. This helps establish trust in the expertise and professionalism of the healthcare workers involved in telehealth.
Overall, it is imperative to establish and enforce protocols to protect patient privacy in telehealth. The use of patient-specific codes, appropriate verification procedures, and training healthcare workers on privacy measures can help mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to patient information. By maintaining professionalism and adhering to ethical standards, telehealth can provide secure and reliable healthcare services to patients, regardless of their location.
References:
Association, A. M. (2005). Ethical practice in telemedicine. Retrieved from AMA: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/ethics/ethical-practice-telemedicine
Hebda, T. H. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare professionals (6th ed). New York, NY: Pearson.
