Question

A medical assistant left her computer unlocked with a patient's chart visible, what actions should the assistant take in the future to prevent unauthorized viewing of patient information?

1) Lock the computer when leaving it unattended
2) Log out of the computer system when finished
3) Ensure the patient's chart is not visible on the screen
4) Implement password protection for accessing patient data

Answer 1

To protect patient information, a medical assistant should lock the computer when unattended, log out of the system when done, make sure the patient chart isn't visible on the screen, and use password protection for accessing data.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prevent unauthorized viewing of patient information, a medical assistant should take several actions. First, the assistant should always lock the computer when leaving it unattended. This is a quick and effective way to ensure that no one else can view sensitive information. Second, logging out of the computer system when finished with their work can help to prevent unauthorized access even if someone bypasses the physical security of the terminal. Additionally, the assistant should ensure that the patient's chart is not visible on the screen to passers-by or others who are not authorized to view it. Finally, implementing password protection and other security measures for accessing patient data is a crucial step in protecting patient privacy and complying with laws such as HIPAA.