Module 6 DQ1 and 2 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Module 6 DQ1 and 2 - Article Example Such things as antivirus software and password or smart card logons help facilitate this. Data redundancy is backing up necessary computerized information so that it is available elsewhere in the event of a disaster. Most use what is known as a COOP site, an offsite storage area that is reasonably safe from fire, flood, and a myriad of other problems. Because mechanical items fail, data redundancy also can refer to having extra servers and computer equipment available so that the facility can continue to operate (IAHSS 2012). After the devastating effects on healthcare caused by Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, those administrators would probably agree with this author that redundancy is the most important of the three areas discussed in this paper. HIPAA 1996 and its successor, PPACA 2009 (Obama Care) do tend to place what appears to be a rather large burden on healthcare providers concerning privacy (HHS 2013). However, as described above, the laws as written attempt to help keep providers and patients alike comfortable in the knowledge that necessary personal information (such as social security numbers) is not released to the public, as was the case with the VA employee who lost thousands of SSN’s. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides a list of what it refers to as "identifiable patient information†. Although the law allows the use of the information for clinical use, the Act entails strict privacy rules that must be adhered to (HHS 2013). It specifically disallows release of such information, except in those particular circumstances as outlined. This includes what HIPAA refers to as â€Å"demographic† information as that is defined as those statistics or characteristics that define a certain segment of the population. Such items as name, address, Social Security Number, and date of birth are specified, as well as