April 5, 2024 Today, we’re talking about some international news. Once again, get your passport ready, because we’re taking a trip to the land of Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and of course, the British monarchy. The British monarchy, spanning over 1200 years, has long been a symbol of the United Kingdom. You might have heard a lot of buzz about Kate Middleton’s health concerns over the last several months, with intense interest and curiosity regarding her recent absence from the public. People searching for answers became pandemonium, and rumors flourished, with millions rabidly looking for answers. Weeks after the introduction of ‘KateGate’, the Princess of Wales addressed the public, in a heartfelt video message, revealing her recent cancer diagnosis. However, this personal update was unable to be done on her terms. Hospital staffers searched for her private medical records, violating the princess’s privacy. Today, we’re talking about a topic that hits close to home for everyone: that everyone, including royalty, deserves their Protected Health Information (PHI) to be secure. A Royally Big Problem As a result of the media frenzy regarding the princess’s whereabouts, there was an unfortunate breach of protocol, with her information being searched for by three hospital staffers at the London Clinic after her surgery in January. These staffers have received disciplinary action and have been suspended. The CEO of the London Clinic, Al Russell has released a statement on the matter, “There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.” The United Kingdom and Europe have similar legislation to HIPAA, protecting the privacy of its citizens, to learn more about their laws, read this linked article! An investigation was opened up by the Information Commissioner’s Office, or ICO. Similar to America’s Office for Civil Rights, or OCR, the ICO investigates data protection violations and has the power to enforce laws. They received a breach report at the end of March, and more information is soon to come. However, Kate Middleton is no stranger to healthcare breaches. A similar breach occurred over a decade ago when she was pregnant with her first child. When she was hospitalized for morning sickness, medical staff accidentally shared detailed medical information with callers they thought were Queen Elizabeth and (now King) Prince Charles. These callers weren’t royalty at all, but radio hosts! What can we learn from this? While we don’t have a monarchy stateside, it does serve the valuable lesson that even members in the public eye deserve their protected health information to be private. Ensure your practice has access controls set up, ensuring that information is only accessible to the ones that need it. Additionally, ensure staff is properly trained, knowing best practices in any situation. The Kate Middleton incident serves as a stark reminder of the constant vigilance required to safeguard patient privacy. By learning from past mistakes and implementing extensive security measures, like compliance software like Abyde, healthcare practices can create a culture of compliance. This culture of compliance empowers staff to make informed decisions and protect health information. To see how your compliance currently stands, email us at info@abyde.com and schedule a consultation here.
