About HIPAA compliance and the Advantages of using a Computer Privacy Filter

Protecting individual privacy makes good sense, as well as being mandatory in many settings

Businesses and institutions regulated by HIPAA often use privacy filters to help ensure HIPAA compliance. HIPAA provisions mandated new and stringent standards for patient privacy protection, requiring medical, insurance, and other healthcare businesses and practitioners to protect the privacy and security of that medical information both in electronic and printed formats.

A computer privacy filter is designed to protect your screen data from prying eyes. Privacy filters limit the reading radius of your screen to front view. That means that people who may be looking at your screen from the sides cannot read your screen texts. Many businesses and organizations require view security on computer screens in order to safeguard important company documents; others are required to reduce access to personal information of patients, and customers.

How a Privacy Filter limits screen view

One example of how a privacy
filter limits screen view

HIPAA compliance standards protecting confidential health information. were enacted in 2001. The patient privacy rules set standards to protect the privacy of patient personal health and billing information.

The provisions of the law mandated stringent standards for patient privacy protection, requiring businesses and practitioners to protect the privacy and security of medical information both in electronic and printed formats. Full HIPAA compliance has been required by federal law since April 14, 2003. The rule is enforced by the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and OCR was named responsible for providing assistance to health care providers, hospitals, insurance agencies, doctor offices and health clearinghouses in meeting the regulation's requirements.

What information is protected under the HIPAA privacy regulations?

  • Information physicians, nurses, and other health care providers place in a patient's medical records.
  • Conversations about patient treatment plans and care which doctors have with other healthcare providers, such as nurses and other physicians.
  • Patient billing information.
  • Any information about the patient that is in the health insurer's computer system.
  • Other health information about the patient that's held by those people and institutions affected by this law.

HIPAA compliance in the office. As a result of the passage of this regulation, healthcare, medical, and insurance offices began instituting new procedures and training safeguards in their offices.

An important aspect of the protection of patient information was securing their private medical and billing records from anyone, including their own internal personnel who did not require access to the information to fulfill their job function. The HIPAA privacy regulations required affected organizations to:

  •  "...develop and implement policies and procedures that restrict access and uses of protected health information..."
  • Certain safeguards were also to be implemented, including examples, such as, "...shredding documents..., securing medical records with lock and key or pass code, and limiting access to keys or pass codes."
Computer privacy filter is often a necessary computer accessory.  The HIPAA regulations did not detail specific products and items every office was required to use. Certain items were obvious choices for business owners, HR managers, academic testing facilities, physicians, and other professionals. A computer privacy filter or computer monitor hoods make good business sense in today's open office environments; and, because some models of anti glare filters also provided privacy viewing limits, purchasing those particular type of screens offered an additional workstation benefit for employees, such as less eye fatigue. Probably the most effective and popular technology for creating LCD privacy computer filters is Micro Louver Technology. To read more about the importance of laptop and LCD screen privacy, go to About Laptop Privacy Screen.

Other items quickly became part of organizations under HIPAA standards, but have become favored throughout the business world. Locking file cabinets helped safeguard patient files when not in use, yet locking important business documents behind secure doors can also protect them from other dangers. Right down to details, items such as wall mounting chart holders were redesigned; now there are high-sided models where pending patient file folders can be kept without exposing the patient names to view by casual observers. These medical-style chart holders have been quickly adopted by other organizations, such as company Human Resource Departments.

Other items quickly became part of organizations under HIPAA standards

PDF Files (Acrobat Reader):

OCR Summary of HIPAA Privacy Rule

To read a more detailed OCR Summary of HIPAA Privacy Rule in PDF format, click here.