Final answer:
Helpful University Health System's laptop sharing program likely violates data integrity aspect of the security rule due to the potential mishandling of ePHI on recirculated laptops without proper data sanitization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The case of Helpful University Health System's laptop sharing program involves potential concerns with the privacy of electronic health information (ePHI). Given that these laptops contain sensitive information and are circulated without proper data sanitization, it appears there may be a violation in terms of ensuring data integrity.
According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), covered entities are required to safeguard ePHI and prevent unauthorized access. This includes ensuring that data is accurate and not improperly altered or destroyed. In the scenario where laptops with ePHI are recirculated without proper cleansing, data integrity is at risk because subsequent users can potentially access or alter previous users' ePHI.
The Personal Data Notification & Protection Act of 2017 defines a security breach involving access to sensitive information without authorization. As such, if a recirculated laptop allowed unauthorized access to ePHI, this could also constitute a security breach. This demonstrates the importance of robust policies for handling ePHI, including proper wiping of data before reissuing devices and ensuring comprehensive device and data security.
Furthermore, recent data breaches at large organizations illustrate the criticality of safeguarding personal information. Similar risks are present in health systems without adequate data sanitization practices.
Implementing a solution to this problem that ensures the safe handling of ePHI on shared devices is not only workable but also rooted in legal standards set by HIPAA and best practices for information technology security.