Communication Skills for Working in the Health Sector

 Communication Skills for Working in the Health Sector

Section 4: Understand how to maintain confidentiality

 

  1. With this definition of confidentiality in mind, explain why confidentiality is important.

 

Failure to protect patients’ confidential information can inflict injurious effects on the patients as long as the health organization. The health organization risk losing patients who feel that their information is not stored securely. Such patients may be reluctant to share and disclose crucial personal information needed to facilitate healthcare provision. Health Centres and health care professionals found to have breached the confidentiality agreement risk being sued by the patients and an additional fine from the government. Such a health centre may also experience difficulty in retaining staff and patients. Apathy and anger may develop among the staffs that fear that their personal information might also be unprotected. Some fear may also creep in as the staffs fear losing their jobs over negligence charges that might emanate from reckless handling of confidential information.

 

  1. Explain how to maintain confidentiality when sharing information. You could discuss procedures and processes for maintaining confidentiality, or provide examples in your answer. Refer to any relevant Acts of Parliament in your answer.

 

Whenever a health care professional seeks to share confidential information, he or she should adhere to proven strategies and guideline that define what information can be shared and how this information can be shared. The Data Protection Act of 1998 provides a legislative framework which defines matters pertaining to holding, obtaining, recording, and processing of confidential information. The guidelines and strategies set upon need to be communicated to the employees in the clearest terms possible. The management must continually and regularly remind the employees of their duty to safeguard the confidential data entrusted to them. The management should practice zero tolerance on any breach, intentional or unintentional, of patients’ confidential information. The organization must restrict unauthorized access to confidential information. Such an undertaking will prevent loss, misuse and unlawful access to confidential information.

The procedures used by health organizations differ depending on whether the data is stored electronically or physically. Physical files need to be organized and accessed by authorized personnel only. These files can be kept under lock and key and the key be entrusted to a senior responsible officer. Out-of-date files can be stored in secure location. Electronic files on the other hand should password protected and encrypted and the store should be guarded by a robust firewall to prevent hackers from illegally accessing the files. Prior to sharing a patient’s confidential information, the health worker is required to seek permission from the patient in question. However, there are certain instances where the healthcare professional is allowed to share the information. These instances include a situation where the healthcare professional judges that the patient might injure himself or when the healthcare is sufficiently persuaded that the patient has broken the law.

 

 

 

  1. Which guidelines affect how information is shared within your health sector organisation or one that you are familiar with? Provide an outline below for two examples.

 

Guideline type How does it affect how information is shared?
The Computer Misuse Act 1990

 

 

 

 

 

 The Computer Misuse Act 1990 protects computer data and programs against modification and unlawful access from within or without the organization. These data and programs are safeguarded by passwords. Only authorized personnel are allowed access to these data and programs. Any user that goes past his or her clearance level and accesses data or programs above their clearance level are deemed to have committed a criminal offense.

 
The Mental Capacity Act 2005

 

 

 

 The Mental Capacity Act of 2005 affords a legal framework that empowers and defends service users e.g. patients, who may lack the capacity to make decisions on their own lives. The patients covered under this act include those that have been medically certified to suffer from mental conditions that impair judgments and logical thinking.

 

 

  1. Outline relevant guidelines in terms of up-to-date legislation and guidance which affect your work, in two of the following areas:

 

Area Outline
Data protection

 

 

 As a healthcare practitioner, I believe that it is of paramount importance that I ensure that I adhere to the laid down procedures and legislations that define how patients’ confidential information is to be obtained, recorded, used, and stored. Additionally, I will ensure that I only access the information that is permitted for an employee of my clearance level. I will also ensure that I seek the patients’ consent before sharing their confidential information.

It is very important that I acquaint myself with the provisions of the Data Protection Act of 1998 and the Computer Misuse Act of 1990. After acquainting self with the guidelines and strategies proposed by these two crucial pieces of legislation, I will then fashion my undertakings around the guidelines and avoid flouting any of the rules. The Data Protection Act 1998 outlines the guidelines that must be followed when handling confidential information. The Computer Misuse Act 1990, on the other hand criminalizes unauthorized access of confidential information that is stored electronically.

 
Safeguarding children and young people I believe that as a healthcare professional I owe a duty of care to all patients regardless of their age or gender. The law has guidelines that must be adhered to by healthcare professionals that treat children and young people. Most if not all of these category of patients are considered as minors. This means that they cannot make certain decisions for themselves and parental counsel is required for certain decisions. Any abuse of these minors must be reported to the Local Directorate for Children and Social Services. The Children Act 2004 aims at ensuring that every child stays safe, healthy, and lives in an environment that will enable them grow to responsible members of the society.

 

 

Section 5: Know how to present a positive image of self, organisation and service

 

  1. Describe how to present a positive image of yourself.

 

Your positive personal profile
Presentation of a positive self image can be achieved by use verbal and non-verbal cues. As a professional it is very important to think of self positively and hold self in high esteem. Positive thinking results into positive behaviours. Good grooming is very important; in this regard as a professional I would dress the part. It is often said that one should dress the way he or she desires to be addressed. Dressing goes past adorning a well ironed power suit; a smile on one’s face communicates louder than any power suit. Again, it is said that you are not fully dressed until you wear a smile.

As a professional I would present a positive image by adding a smile, making eye contact, and adopting superior communication skills. People often view you as a positive person if they can readily connect with you. Patients have a difficulty opening up to practitioners that are disinterested in what they are sharing. I would offer my undivided attention to the patients that come to my office. It is also very important to guide the patients towards solutions instead of pointing the solution upfront. Speaking audibly and asking good questions will enable the patients feel that they are being listened to.

As a health practitioner, one of my duties is to furnish the patient with relevant information. In a bid to present a positive image, I would explain the information in a way that it is understandable to the patient. The adoption of powerful people skills and task management skills will ensure that I assign all my patients sufficient time and this will yield patient satisfaction, which will translate to the presentation of a positive self image.

 

 

  1. Describe how to present a positive image of the health sector organisation or service you work for (or one that you are familiar with).

 

Your organisation’s positive profile
A healthcare provider can present a positive image by ensuring that within its mission statement, the organization embodies excellence. Such a provider must also ensure that all of its employees are on the same page as regards the quality of service. The organization should promote continuous learning among the employees to help them keep updated with trends in the industry. Both the personal and professional needs of the employees should be addressed accordingly. The organization should have a well equipped staff welfare department or the HR department that deals with all matters affecting the employees. This department should ensure fairness in the way the employees are treated. The management should ensure that the staffs are sufficiently motivated.

The organization can also invest in ensuring that patient information is kept safe. This will ensure that the organization is viewed in good light by the patients. The organization must consult all the relevant stakeholders before making crucial decisions. The organization can also invest in questionnaires that can then be circulated to service users and employees to collect data that can be used to improve service delivery and boost the organization’s positive image.

 

 

  1. Why is presenting a positive image of yourself, the health sector organisation you work for or the service you provide important? Use the table below to state your answers.

 

Positive image

 

 Why is this important for the organisation you work for?
1. Yourself

 

 Organizations are made up of individuals. When each person plays their part and presents a positive self image then the whole organization will be seen in positive light. Personal positive self image averts many liabilities and charges that result from a negative self image. The consequences of negative self image are long lasting and may affect both the individual’s and organization’s standing.

 
2. The organisation you work for

 

 The achievement of a positive self image at an organizational level ensures that the organization is viewed in positive light and maintains a good standing. Such a standing will enable the organization to retain old clients and attract new ones.
3. The service you provide

 

 

 Positive image at the individual and organizational level boosts the faith of the service users in the organization and the staff. Such faith translates into trust and the patients respond best to the medical treatment resulting into faster recoveries and positive health outcomes.

 

Once you have completed all 5 sections of this Assessment, go to www.vision2learn.com. Log in to the platform and send your Assessment to your tutor via your My Study page for marking. Good luck!

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