[ANSWER] BUS-FPX3121 ASSESSMENT 2 INSTRUCTIONS: TECHNOLOGY, DATA SECURITY & ETHICS IN CARE

BUS-FPX3121 ASSESSMENT 2 INSTRUCTIONS: TECHNOLOGY, DATA SECURITY & ETHICS IN CARE

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Capella University

BUS-FPX3121 Healthcare Management Ethics

Prof. Name

Date

Introduction

Technology has become an essential element in modern healthcare, significantly transforming the way medical information is managed and shared. With advancements in technology, healthcare professionals are consistently seeking new methods to enhance patient care quality. One of the most impactful innovations is the integration of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) through Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). These systems enable seamless sharing of sensitive patient information across various healthcare settings, granting providers access to critical data necessary for delivering comprehensive care.

However, while this improved accessibility enhances care coordination, it also introduces complex legal, ethical, and privacy concerns—particularly regarding mental health records. This paper explores these implications through the case of Sarah, a 32-year-old woman with a significant mental health history who experiences a medical emergency and is rushed to the hospital. The discussion focuses on four major themes: privacy versus care, informed consent, legal and ethical obligations, and long-term consequences of accessing her mental health records during emergency treatment.

Privacy Versus Care

When Sarah arrives at the hospital for emergency treatment, the medical staff consults the HIE database to gather critical health information. Through this process, they discover that Sarah is undergoing mental health treatment. The healthcare team now faces an ethical dilemma: whether to access and use her mental health records to inform treatment decisions.

This situation requires balancing patient privacy against the duty to provide optimal care. According to the principle of beneficence, healthcare professionals must act in the best interests of the patient by promoting well-being and preventing harm (Morrison, 2019). Accessing Sarah’s mental health records could inform her treatment, prevent complications, or tailor medication choices, particularly if her mental health conditions affect physical responses or medication interactions.

However, this must be weighed against the principle of autonomy, which upholds Sarah’s right to control her personal information (Morrison, 2019). Accessing her records without explicit consent could infringe upon her privacy and erode trust in the healthcare system. Therefore, the medical staff must determine whether the potential benefits of improved care justify the risk of privacy violation. If the access is deemed medically necessary and in her best interest, it may be ethically defensible under emergency care standards.

Informed Consent

Understanding Informed Consent in Emergencies

Informed consent is a fundamental ethical and legal requirement that ensures patients understand and agree to how their medical information is used (Morrison, 2019). In emergency situations, obtaining explicit consent can be difficult, particularly when the patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to make decisions.

The healthcare team must decide whether to obtain Sarah’s consent or that of her mental health providers before accessing her records. Under HIPAA, consent is generally not required for treatment purposes, except for certain records such as psychotherapy notes or substance abuse treatment records (Vemuri & Dunn, 2017).

Ethical Decision-Making Process

The decision-making process in Sarah’s case can be represented as follows:

If accessing her records without explicit consent is deemed necessary, healthcare providers must later disclose this action to Sarah and explain its justification. Once she regains decision-making capacity, her consent must be obtained for any further use of her mental health information.

Legal and Ethical Obligations

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (1996) establishes regulations for protecting patient medical records, including mental health information. Under HIPAA, sharing such data without patient consent is generally prohibited, except in emergency situations where access is necessary to protect the patient’s health or life (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), 2024).

In Sarah’s case, the healthcare team must navigate both legal and ethical responsibilities. Ethically, the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence guide them to act in ways that promote Sarah’s well-being and avoid harm. At the same time, autonomy requires respecting her control over personal data, and justice ensures she receives equitable treatment without unnecessary disclosure of confidential information.

Healthcare providers should also document the decision to access mental health records, providing a clear rationale for why such access was necessary in the emergency context. Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining patient trust and complying with both ethical and legal standards.

Long-Term Consequences

Accessing Sarah’s mental health records without her explicit consent may have several long-term consequences. On a personal level, Sarah may feel that her privacy has been violated, which can erode her trust in the healthcare system. This loss of trust might make her reluctant to seek future medical or psychological treatment, or cause her to withhold critical information from providers.

On a systemic level, the misuse or perceived misuse of patient data can diminish public confidence in Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). Therefore, healthcare systems must develop strategies to balance patient privacy with the need for timely access to critical data.

To preserve Sarah’s trust after the emergency, the medical team should:

1. Inform her that her records were accessed.
2. Explain how the information was used to support her treatment.
3. Reassure her that confidentiality will continue to be maintained.

The sustainability of HIE systems depends on fostering this delicate balance between privacy protection and comprehensive patient care.

Conclusion

The decision to use an HIE for accessing a patient’s mental health records during an emergency involves complex ethical, legal, and privacy considerations. In Sarah’s situation, her medical team had to balance the urgent need for information with respect for her autonomy and confidentiality.

By adhering to HIPAA requirements and applying ethical principles such as beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice, healthcare providers can ensure that patient care decisions are both ethically sound and legally compliant. The long-term implications of these decisions extend beyond immediate treatment—they shape patient trust and future engagement with the healthcare system. Managing such challenges carefully enables healthcare professionals to uphold both high standards of care and patient rights.

References

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). (2024, September 10). Public Health Law. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/php/resources/health-insurance-portabilityand-accountability-act-of-1996-hipaa.html

BUS-FPX 3121 Assessment 2 Instructions: Technology, Data Security & Ethics in Care

Morrison, E. E. (2019). Ethics in Health Administration: A Practical Approach for Decision Makers (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. https://capella.vitalsource.com/books/9781284194319

Vemuri, M., & Dunn, L. B. (2017). Ethical and clinical issues in integrated care settings: Patient privacy concerns and electronic health records. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), 15(3), 301–305. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20170018

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