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Discussion: Week 14
According to Ball, Hannah, Newbold, and Douglas, (2013), there are three main levels of nurse informatics competencies. The level 1.0 competencies describe the entry-level competencies for the beginning nurse. They entail the basic computer skills required by the users of information technology. A nurse with these competencies knows and understands how to interact with the common computer applications and information systems. The level 2.0 competencies describe the skills and knowledge relating to the analysis, management, development, modification and evaluation of information technology for nursing. Nurses with these competencies have the IT knowledge required to support evidence-based nursing practices. The level 3.0 competencies describe the skills and knowledge required by the informatics innovator. Nurses with these competencies can use specific software to support research, implement clinical and administrative decisions and develop new competencies.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established the HIPAA statute to fulfill several goals. The first objective of the statute is to standardize the exchange of electronic health information and promote the security of the information. This objective concerns the regulation of the data formats, EHR systems, security certificates and methods of data transmission between the relevant entities. HIPAA defines the administrative, physical and technical safeguards that healthcare facilities should implement to guarantee the security of patients’ data. For example, the hospitals should use the SSL encryption to exchange electronic records. The second objective is to protect and promote the privacy of healthcare consumers (HHS.gov, n.d.). This objective concerns the regulation of the use and sharing of individuals’ health information. HIPAA seeks to balance the privacy rights of individuals with the necessary disclosures. For example, it describes the situations where hospitals and EHR vendors should seek the patients’ consent before sharing their information with third parties.
