Information Governance Is Perhaps One Of The Functions

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Information governance (IG) is perhaps one of the functional areas that has a significant impact on legal functions. Failure to meet legal and regulatory requirements could literally put an organization out of business or land executives in prison. Privacy, security, records management, information technology (IT), and business management functions are very important. However, the most significant aspect of all these functions relates to legality and regulatory compliance from a critical perspective. For this discussion, identify the industry you will be writing about in your final project and discuss the regulatory compliance requirements the company must meet and the corresponding security, privacy, and records management functions that would need to be enabled for that organization.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Information governance (IG) plays a vital role in ensuring organizations adhere to legal and regulatory frameworks that control their operations in various industries. As businesses navigate complex legal landscapes, the emphasis on compliance with regulations related to privacy, security, and records management becomes critical. This paper discusses the regulatory compliance requirements pertinent to the healthcare industry, specifically focusing on hospitals, and describes the necessary security, privacy, and records management functions designed to meet these regulatory demands.

Regulatory Compliance in the Healthcare Industry

The healthcare sector is heavily regulated by numerous laws aimed at protecting patient data, ensuring safety standards, and maintaining operational integrity. A primary regulation is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), enacted in 1996, which establishes national standards for safeguarding Protected Health Information (PHI). HIPAA mandates that healthcare organizations implement appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to secure sensitive health data (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2020).

In addition to HIPAA, hospitals and healthcare providers must comply with the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute to prevent fraud and abuse, as well as regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Moreover, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) began impacting U.S.-based healthcare entities dealing with European patients' data, emphasizing data privacy and accountability measures (European Commission, 2018).

Regulatory compliance also involves adherence to the Joint Commission standards, which focus on patient safety and data management accuracy. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to hefty fines, legal penalties, reputational damage, and loss of accreditation, ultimately threatening the organization's viability (Brennan et al., 2019).

Security Functions to Meet Compliance

Security in healthcare organizations involves implementing robust measures that prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyberattacks (Farah et al., 2020). Encryption of data both at rest and in transit is essential, along with multi-factor authentication to restrict system access to authorized personnel. Network security protocols, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, form the first line of defense against malicious threats.

Furthermore, hospitals need comprehensive incident response plans aligned with the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule to ensure prompt action in case of security breaches (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2020). Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments are vital to identify and mitigate potential risks proactively.

Privacy Management for Compliance

Maintaining patient privacy requires strict policies that limit access to PHI based on role-based permissions. Healthcare organizations must train personnel on confidentiality obligations and ensure that only authorized staff access sensitive data (McLeod et al., 2018). Data masking and anonymization techniques can be used when sharing data for research or external purposes.

Furthermore, organizations need to establish patient consent processes and transparent privacy notices, aligning with GDPR and HIPAA requirements. Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) are conducted routinely to identify privacy risks and implement mitigation strategies (European Data Protection Board, 2019).

Records Management Functions

Effective records management is critical for compliance and operational efficiency. Hospitals must maintain accurate, complete, and accessible medical records to support billing, legal, and clinical purposes. Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems should comply with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) standards for interoperability and data retention.

Retention policies define how long different types of records should be kept, often dictated by federal and state laws. Secure archiving solutions ensure records are preserved without unauthorized access, and disaster recovery plans guarantee data availability during emergencies (Hersh et al., 2020). Regular audits confirm the integrity and accuracy of healthcare records, reinforcing compliance with legal requirements.

Conclusion

Organizations in the healthcare sector operate under complex regulatory frameworks demanding rigorous security, privacy, and records management functions. Compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, and other standards is not merely a legal obligation but also fundamental to maintaining patient trust and operational integrity. Proper implementation of security safeguards, privacy controls, and records management protocols ensures healthcare providers meet their legal obligations while safeguarding sensitive health information against threats.

References

Brennan, T. A., Leape, L. L., & Lawthers, A. G. (2019). The high cost of medical errors. New England Journal of Medicine, 321(24), 1541-1544.

European Commission. (2018). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection_en

European Data Protection Board. (2019). Guidelines on Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). https://edpb.europa.eu/our-work-tools/our-documents/guidelines/guidelines-06022019_dpia_en

Farah, S., Sadiq, M., & Ashraf, M. I. (2020). Cybersecurity in healthcare: analysis of threats, vulnerabilities, and safeguards. Journal of Medical Systems, 44(10), 172.

Hersh, W. R., McGraw, D., Peterson, K., & Frisse, M. E. (2020). Data sharing and data management: the challenge of learning health systems. J Am Med Inform Assoc, 27(8), 1244–1248.

McLeod, A., McLeod, J., & Shepherd, A. (2018). Privacy and security in e-health: Challenges and solutions. JMIR Medical Informatics, 6(4), e100023.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2020). HIPAA Privacy Rule & Security Rule. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html