A new federal law that recently went into effect provides broad new protections to patients regulating access to medical records.
According to Margaret Spear, director of University Health Services, the Health Care Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is "really nothing new" at the student health services.
"We have always protected patient rights and have considered confidentiality a major priority," she said. "But to comply with all parts of the new law, we have made a few changes in how we document privacy protections."
Health Services will provide formal notification of the Notice of Privacy practices, and all new patients will be required to acknowledge that they have been informed. This means that students receiving medical services and faculty and staff using the pharmacy will be required to sign a HIPAA acknowledgment form. Health Services also reviewed all policies and procedures to make sure they were in compliance with the new law, and every employee has received training regarding privacy rights of patients.
For more information about the Notice of Privacy practices, visit the Health Services Web site at http://www1.sa.psu.edu/uhs/privacy.cfm.