Educational Objectives
- Determine what the clinician needs to do to achieve compliance with HIPAA Security and HITECH mandates
- Describe security standards like encryption and when we need them in clinical practice – legally, ethically and practically.
- Describe an Internet transmission and where risks to confidentiality lie in it.
- Assess popular communications technologies for ethical, clinical and practical appropriateness for use with clients.
- Make an Interim Security and Privacy Plan that takes the clinician’s time, energy and financial resources into account
- Determine the clinician’s needs around how best to assist their particular clients in protecting their own privacy in therapy
- Create a Communications Policy that reflects sound security and privacy procedures and helps clients be involved in the security and privacy process
- Incorporate client behaviors and beliefs around security/privacy into assessment and treatment.
Ethics/Legal Documents Cited
- ACA Code of Ethics (2005)
- APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2002)
- NASW Code of Ethics (2008)
- HIPAA Administrative Simplification (2006)
- NASW and ASWB Standards for Technology and Social Work Practice (2005)
- NBCC Policy Regarding The Provision of Distance Professional Services (2012)
- APA Guidelines For the Practice of Telepsychology, July 2012 DRAFT (Released for public comment.)