HIPAA Privacy Rule and Emergency Situations

Why Should You Attend:

The HIPAA Privacy Rule, which protects the privacy of an individual’s medical records and other personal health information, is not suspended during an emergency. However, the Rule anticipates “Emergency Circumstances” and expressly provides parameters for disclosures during a crisis.

Everyone living or traveling within the United States should know their rights under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, but should also familiarize themselves with how the Rule might impede the ability of healthcare professionals to relay information in an emergency situation. Likewise, all healthcare professionals require an understanding that the Privacy Rule is not suspended during emergencies, whether or not they are a covered entity and the details of the Rule’s provisions during Emergency Circumstances.

The focus of this topic is on Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (commonly referred to as the Privacy Rule.) in Emergency Circumstances delineated in the Rule.

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• General Overview of HIPAA Privacy Rule
• HIPAA Privacy Rule: “Emergency Circumstances” provisions
• What covered entities/business associates are involved in emergency situations? e.g. is a private security company that hires paramedics to work at a music festival a covered entity? What about concert-goers who are off-duty healthcare professionals? Colleges and universities?
• Carve-outs from the general rule enumerated and explained
• Scenarios that qualify as Emergency Circumstances
• Mass Casualty Events?
• Flu Outbreaks?
• College student who has alcohol poisoning?
• Unconscious and injured driver involved in a car accident?

Who Will Benefit:

• Everyone living or traveling in the United States
• Healthcare professionals
• Insurance carriers providing E&O
• Nurses
• Physicians

Christine Zack
Chief Strategy Officer, Mariner Health Central

Christine Zack has served as a senior executive for three national healthcare companies and has held the titles Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, Associate General Counsel, Vice President and Corporate Counsel. She has served as the department head for the Risk Management Department and worked in the Finance and Legal Departments.

Ms. Zack is also a highly sought-after public speaker with organizations from Washington, DC to Palo Alto, CA engaging her services.

Ms. Zack holds a Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School and a Bachelor of Arts with a double Major in Sociology and Political Science from Dickinson College.

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