Preparing Staff for HIPAA: A Day in the Life

ACPE Universal Program Number:
207-000-09-036-H03-P and 207-000-09-036-H03-T

Release date: August 21, 2009
Expiration date: August 21, 2012

STATEMENT OF NEED

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) brought with it a significant set of privacy standards to secure the protected health information (PHI) of pharmacy patients. These privacy standards require a pharmacy to conduct training of its staff on policies and procedures to protect PHI. Further, the training must be designed to assist each staff member in carrying out his or her function within the pharmacy. Law mandates that all pharmacy employees who may reasonably be expected to be exposed to patients PHI be trained and that new hires to the pharmacy receive training within a reasonable time after employment. This training program is simple, easy to understand and delivered in pharmacy terms with helpful case study interactions.

PHARMACIST LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this activity, the pharmacist should be able to:

• Explain what HIPAA is and the effect that HIPAA will have on your pharmacy practice.
• Explain what Protected Healthcare Information is and how it must be treated.
• Understand the patient's rights under HIPAA.
• Understand what a Notice of Privacy Practice is and how it is to be used within your pharmacy operation.
• Understand how to interact with the patient's family, friends and caregivers under HIPAA.
• Understand how to comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule and build safeguards into your pharmacy operations.

TECHNICIAN LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this activity, the pharmacy technician should be able to:

• Explain what HIPAA is and the effect that HIPAA has on pharmacy policies.
• Explain what Protected Healthcare Information is and how it must be treated.
• List the patient's rights under HIPAA.
• Discuss what a Notice of Privacy Practice is and how it is to be used.
• Outline how to interact with the patient's family, friends and caregivers under HIPAA.
• Describe how to comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

ACCREDITATION

NCPA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity will provide 1.0 contact hours (.10 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credit under the number 207-000-09-036-H03-P and 207-000-09-036-H03-T.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The target audience for this activity is pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

B. Douglas Hoey, R.Ph., M.B.A. is the project director for the NCPA HIPAA Compliance Handbook for Community Pharmacy and the NCPA HIPAA Compliance Handbook for Community Pharmacy Workbook Supplement.

Walter Fitzgerald Jr., R.Ph., J.D. is the author of the NCPA HIPAA Compliance Handbook for Community Pharmacy and the NCPA HIPAA Compliance Handbook for Community Pharmacy Workbook Supplement.

DISCLOSURE DECLARATION

It is the policy of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all of their continuing education activities.

The author, sponsor, and publisher of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing educational activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, precautions) and drug delivery systems are subject to change, however, the reader is advised to check the manufacturer's package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.

Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by NCPA of any product or manufacturer identified.

FEE

The fee for this activity is $8.50 per user.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright© 2009 by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). All rights reserved. The educational activity, "Preparing Staff for HIPAA: A Day in the Life..." is a learning tool developed for community pharmacists and their staff. No part of this activity may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the National Community Pharmacists Association.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

The content contained in this activity is not intended to be, and is not to be construed as the provision of legal advice or counsel. Any questions and needs for legal advice or counsel related to implementing and complying with the HIPAA Standards should be addressed to existing counsel to the pharmacy.

No warranties of any kind or nature whatsoever, express or implied, including the implied warranty of merchantability and the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, are provided. The liability of NCPA, the author, and project director and any other party associated with the writing, publishing, or distribution of this activity is limited solely and exclusively to the purchase price actually paid for the activity. Any requests for a refund must be received by NCPA within thirty (30) days of the date of purchase and must be in writing.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

PC
Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater
Windows 2000 or greater
Sound Card & Speakers 800 x 600 Minimum Monitor Resolution (1024 x 768 Recommended)
Flash Player Plug-in (9.0 or later) Check your version here.
Adobe Acrobat Reader

MAC
Mac OS 10.2.8
Safari
Internet Explorer is not supported on the Macintosh.
Sound Card & Speakers 800 x 600 Minimum Monitor Resolution (1024 x 768 Recommended)
Flash Player Plug-in (9.0 or later) Check your version here.
Adobe Acrobat Reader