Final answer:
Clients can use a PHR to track and print their health information. Policies related to health records must address balancing treatment costs and patient quality of life, privacy risks, and the legal complexities under HIPAA.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, clients can use a Personal Health Record (PHR) to keep track of and print important health information. A PHR is a tool that individuals can use to collect, track, and share past and current information about their health or the health of someone in their care. It is separate from, and does not replace, the health records that healthcare providers maintain.
When developing policies surrounding health records, three questions must be addressed:
- How do we balance the cost of treatments and diagnoses with the patient's quality of life?
- What measures are necessary to mitigate risks to individual privacy?
- How do we navigate the legal complexities posed by regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
These considerations are critical because they determine the extent to which health information can be shared and how privacy is protected. HIPAA sets the standards for the protection of patient information and maintains the strict confidentiality of patient records. Meanwhile, ethical concerns also arise, such as whether a patient's privacy rights take precedence over a sexual partner's right to know about potential risks from a sexually transmitted disease.