Research Proposal

This is my research proposal for my recent question generation document, referring to the flexibility of the HIPPA law. This describes my brainstorming, what sparks my interst about HIPPA, my troubles I had with this project, how I plan to overcome my problems, as well as what research I found that I could use for my final draft.

Research Proposal

            The HIPPA law is very relevant in today’s society; it affects every person in this nation every day.  There has been much debate on this issue, and I have come to learn in my research that there are many parties interested in the HIPPA law. Something that sparked my interest, and was the key reason to my research was the strictness of the HIPPA law, and how it can affect society in a negative way as well as positive.

            When I first began my research and brainstorming, my question was not specific as it should have been, it was too simple. My original research question was, should the HIPPA law be more flexible? I found some great answers in my research for debates but the question really was too simple, it was a yes or no question. So with Professor Vives pointing out the simplistic nature of my question, I brainstormed new questions, but still sticking to my original topic of the HIPPA law, and its flexibility. The new question that I have formulated is, how does the HIPPA law affect society negatively, and positively.

            This question is worth investigating because it effects everyone in society, all the medical records you have ever had, is affected by the HIPPA law. Also there are a lot of negative aspects to the HIPPA law that people fail to think about until it affects them personally. I believe it’s important for people to understand the positive aspects of HIPPA that protect you, but also the negative aspects of HIPPA that can harm society. I personally believe this issue hasn’t been resolved because it can be an ethical issue of personal protection, and society protection. Not enough people have been affected personally for the law to be debated enough and changed.

            I hope to gain more knowledge of this law, and how it has affected people around me. I want to know what people around me have to say about this law, the nurses, doctors, and those affected negatively. I hope that I can make others see the positive, as well as negative aspects of the HIPPA law, and how it could affect them.

            Through my research I have learned that others besides me are interested in this topic. I have seen journals on the topic in my library research from scholars. I also came across an article where the measles sent three people to the hospital, and the doctors refused to tell the community the names of the patients; along with this article was a blog of nurses debating on whether the information should have been disclosed or not.

            Some sources that I have come across are, Banking on privacy: Hospitals must protect patient information -- and their own liability -as banks balk at HIPPA, HIPAA humdrum: Generally speaking, laws work better if they're enforced,  Promoting health literacy in patients with diabetes,  Using Campinha-Bacote's process of cultural competence model to examine the relationship between health literacy and cultural competence,  HIPAA—The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act What RNs Need to Know About Privacy Rules and Protected Electronic Health Information,  HIPAA and its impact on pharmacy practice, Measles case raises the issue of privacy versus the public good (article), and Measles Cases Raise HIPAA Debate (popular source). The article on measles was accompanied with the nurse’s blog debating on the flexibility on HIPPA. 

Works Cited

 

·         Fuoco, Michael. “Measles case raises the issue of privacy versus the public good”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2 April 2009. Web.

·         Jolie. Measles Cases Raise HIPAA Debate. AllNurses.com, 3 April 2009. Web.

·         Haugh, R. "Banking On Privacy. Hospitals Must Protect Patient Information -- And Their Own Liability -- As Banks Balk At HIPPA." H&HN: Hospitals & Health Networks 78.2 (2004): 50. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 13 Sept. 2012.

·         Friedman, Emily. "HIPAA Humdrum: Generally Speaking, Laws Work Better If They're Enforced." Modern Healthcare 41.35 (2011): 26. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 13 Sept. 2012.

·         Stiles, Ella. "Promoting Health Literacy In Patients With Diabetes." Nursing Standard 26.8 (2011): 35-40. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 13 Sept. 2012.

·         Ingram, Racquel, Richardson. "Using Campinha-Bacote's Process Of Cultural Competence Model To Examine The Relationship Between Health Literacy And Cultural Competence." Journal Of Advanced Nursing 68.3 (2012): 695-704. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 13 Sept. 2012.

·         "HIPAA -- The Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act: What Rns Need To Know About Privacy Rules And Protected Electronic Health Information." National Nurse 107.6 (2011): 20-27. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 14 Sept. 2012.

·         Giacalone, RP, and GG Cacciatore. "HIPPA And Its Impact On Pharmacy Practice." American Journal Of Health-System Pharmacy 60.5 (2003): 433-445. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 14 Sept. 2012.