Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
The preservation of privacy and security within the healthcare environment is one of the
fundamental aspects of the medical practice. Hospitals, dispensaries and clinics receive a lot of
health sensitive information that can be easily accessed by anyone. Patient data can be obtained
from the institution’s database or record keeping system and shared to unwanted individuals. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay. The process of making data anonymous is very importance because it ensures patients’ information is tucked away safely. At the same time, it ensures that this data it authenticated and authorized by the right people only when the need for it arises.
The concept of data anonymity for patients is highly observed at the National Health
Service or the NHS. The latter is an organization that is responsible for overseeing the quality of
health services for people living within the United Kingdom. This institution is also tasked with
the duty of ensuring that all data provided by patients is kept safe and secure at all times through
the process of anonymity. Additionally, the process of controlled login procedures are also
included in this critical aspect of health care provision. This paper is a critical analysis essay that
discusses the importance of patient data anonymity in the context of medical teaching. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Patient Data anonymity in NHS
a) Importance Of Patient Anonymity In Medicine
The concept of data anonymity in health care is very essential, as it is geared towards the
protection and safeguarding of patient’s details. This process involves making the data encrypted
or removing any information that can be personally traced down to a patient (Veitch, 2010). The
digital era has created various software systems that can be used to convert data in text formats
into a form that is not readable in the nonhuman form. What’s more, these software systems are designed such that the keys used for encryption are discarded. As such, they ensure that nobody
can have access to the computer systems used to decode information so as to make it confidential
(Bernoth et al, 2014). Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.The process of anonymization of data in healthcare allows the transfer of
information between departments, agencies or divisions. This is done such that the risk of
disclosure of unintended information, details or data is minimized entirely. In the medical field,
anonymous data is a form of data where the information cannot be traced down to a given patient
(Richardson et al, 2015).
This is because details such as the name, address, location, phone number and postal
codes are entirely removed when preparing the medical records. In addition, geographical details
that can give away the identity of the patient are also exempted when preparing the reports as
well (Daries et al, 2014). Data anonymity can take various forms where one of them is
safeguarding information for patients that seek healthcare services. The second form of
anonymity can be related to patients who decide to take part in a medical research study (Frerich
et al, 2012). In both cases, it is overly essential to ensure that the patients are assured of
anonymity so that nobody can know the disease or ailment that they suffer from at any moment.
At the same time, patients who decide to take part in a research study have the right to
anonymity so that their information cannot be traced back to them (Taylor, 2015).
The concept of data anonymity holds a lot of essence when it comes to medical training
and teaching. The majority of teaching hospitals are required by law to employ health care
professionals and providers who are highly qualified and competent (Cole et al, 2014).
Part of this qualification requires the health care experts to clearly comprehend and practice the
concept of ensuring that the data provided by patients is strictly anonymous (Taylor, 2015). This
is done through the provision of training programs and learning courses that equip medical students with the knowledge that is required to handle patients and their exclusive medical
history. It is a well-known fact that all the individuals operating within the medical and health
care system hold different sets of skills and expertise. Additionally, each person in this team
plays their own distinct and unique role when it comes to attending to the needs of the patients
(Schmidlin et al, 2015). Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
In large health facilities, the concept of data anonymity can be a confusing one because
complex systems of computer technology are installed to ensure that no information or details
are unintentionally leaked into the public eye (Taylor, 2015). The majority of patients are not
aware that they have a right to have their personal details kept anonymous and confidential.
Moreover, the patients who are aware of this data anonymity have their doubts when it comes to
the level of efficiency of safeguarding this information (Abbing et al, 2014).
The following part of this essay discusses the importance of anonymity of data for
patients within the medical teaching fraternity. This importance is described in detail by
analyzing the role played by the National Health Service or the NHS.
b) Patient Data anonymity in Medical Teaching: A Case study of the National Health
Service (NHS)
The National Health Service is one of the largest public health care facilities and systems
within the United Kingdom. In fact, it is rated as one of the oldest and long-serving medical
facilities and organizations across the globe (Marsh and Reynard, 2009). The NHS was founded
under the common denominator of providing medical attention to people in Britain and England
at a no cost basis (Schmidlin et al, 2015). Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
The National Health Service is termed as the largest provider of healthcare and the
services it renders are not limited. Statistics indicate that the National Health Service deals with approximately one million patients on a daily basis. This means that this facility handles a large
number of patients on a monthly or yearly basis. As such, the concept of data anonymity is very
important to this organization because it means that they have a large number of patients to
protect (McCullough and Schell-Chaple, 2013).
The National Health Service also services as a teaching and training facility where
medical students are trained on important diagnostic, tests, hands-on skills as well as health care
practices (Latour and Albarran, 2012). At the same time, they are sometimes allowed to handle
quite a number of patients and record their information (Elger et al, 2015). This is where the
concept of data anonymity becomes of essence as the students learn how to safeguard the details
of their patients. The National Health Service has established a glossary that contains all the data
for all its patients. This glossary is meant to connect health provision to the safety of its patients
(Elger et al, 2015). Furthermore, this glossary contains all the NHS information for both the
social and health care departments. This means that it holds the overall responsibility of ensuring
that any details of its patients are protected at all costs (Bernoth et al, 2014). Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
This begins from the highest position level in the NHS to the lowest and junior most
employee in this facility. The anonymity of patient data is a process that has been enacted into
law according to the NHS act of 2006. Specifically, section 251 was created to allow for the use
of patient’s data only after they have given their consent (Lowth, 2013). The National Health
Service ensures the anonymity of its patient’s data by uploading all the medical details to a
common database. The vast nature of this medical facility led to the data of its patients being
categorized in three different levels (Laing et al, 2005).
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
The first level of the red data that contains all the person information of patients and is
tightly regulated, safeguarded and protected from any form of public leakages (Hiriscau et al, 2014). A classic example of red data would include the location of residence, their names and
contact address. The second form of data is the green data that contains no form of personal
information or details at all. An example is where patient details are converted into codes such
that a patient is identified by a specific code. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay. The third type of data is the orange data that is
normally an in between of the red and green data (Whiteman, 2015). The orange data is termed
as the battle field of the entire medical fraternity. This data is considered as being controversial
because the National Health Service has been accused of sharing it outside to third parties at a
given financial cost (Whiteman, 2015).
The anonymity of patient data at the NHS is still maintained at a high level through the
use of technological innovations system that are up to date. This concept augurs well with the
preservation of anonymity because it adopts noble forms of technology to take care of one of the
most sensitive aspects of health care. Data anonymity in this process makes use of other forms of
personal details such as the prescriptions given and the diagnosis that it made (Griffith, 2015). In
this approach, this different form of data anonymization still protects the data of patients and at
the same time ensures that the information can still be useful to the medical practitioners who are
trying to access it (Repetto, 2008). Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
The concept of data anonymity for patients within the medical field is of high importance
when it comes to teaching and training (Crook, 2013). Students who pursue courses related to
medicine, research and health care are taught how to handle the details of their patients with
strict confidentiality (Falcó et al, 2015). At the same time, the medical practice also contains an
ethical code of conduct that expects the professionals to preserve and protect any information
given to them in confidence by their patients (Crook, 2013). In this regard, the doctor, nurse or
health expert is not expected to reveal that intricate details of their patients to any person. This means that if a patient visits the National Health Service with a given condition, they are
expected to give the respective doctor an outline of their symptoms and signs that they might
have observed (Crook, 2013).
The doctor then goes ahead to outline the patient history in terms of how long they have
suffered from the same medical condition, other family diseases, complications or genetic
disorders. As such, the medical history of a patient contains a lot of vital information that should
always be treated with anonymity (Butler and Zamora, 2013). This concept is always
emphasized by the National Health Service and this explains how they have managed to remain
the leading health care providers within the European region.
Conclusion
The practice of medicine and health care is a sensitive profession as it deals with
improving the quality of life of human beings. This occupation requires a lot of skill, competence
and expertise when handling the wide variety of patients that access medical attention. One of
the important aspects of medicine and health care is the ability to anonymize the data and
information provided by patients. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay. Essentially, this means that the records of patients should not be accessed by random people. Instead, the people who should have first-hand knowledge of their details are the assigned physicians and doctors who have received prior training. The process of maintaining data anonymity for patients’ stems from the fact that it is meant to protect the overall well-being of any sick or ailing person. At the same time, it also means that the records of patients can only be accessed when the need for it arises. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
The lack of anonymity can result in disastrous consequences such that this information
can land in the hands of the wrong person. The end result is that it may be disseminated to other
people who do not deserve to access or see it. The emphasis on the process of maintaining anonymity in medical teaching should be stressed at all times such that patients can have
confidence in knowing that the information they provide is not at risk of being shared out to
other third parties. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
References
Abbing, H. R. (2014). Medical Confidentiality and Patient Safety: Reporting
Procedures. European Journal of Health Law, 21(3), 245-259. Doi: 10.1163/15718093-
12341319
Bernoth, M., Dietsch, E., Burmeister, O., & Schwartz, M. (2014). Information Management in
Aged Care: Cases of Confidentiality and Elder Abuse. Journal of Business Ethics, 122(3),
453-460. Doi: 10.1007/S10551-013-1770-7. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
Bernoth, M., Dietsch, E., Burmeister, O., & Schwartz, M. (2014). Information Management in
Aged Care: Cases of Confidentiality and Elder Abuse. Journal Of Business Ethics, 122(3),
453-460. doi:10.1007/s10551-013-1770-7
Butler, M. H., & Zamora, J. P. (2013). Ethical And Legal Concerns For Mfts In The Context Of
Clergy-Collaborative Care: Is What I Share Really Confidential? American Journal of
Family Therapy, 41(2), 85-109.
Cole, C., Wellard, S., & Mummery, J. (2014). Problematising autonomy and advocacy in
nursing. Nursing Ethics, 21(5), 576-582. doi:10.1177/0969733013511362
Crook, M. (2013). The Risks of Absolute Medical Confidentiality. Science & Engineering
Ethics, 19(1), 107-122. Doi: 10.1007/S11948-011-9283-1. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
Daries, J. P., Reich, J., Waldo, J., Young, E. M., Whittinghill, J., Dean Ho, A., & … Chuang, I.
(2014). Privacy, Anonymity, and Big Data in the Social Sciences. Communications of the
Acm, 57(9), 56-63. Doi: 10.1145/2643132
Elger, B. S., Handtke, V., & Wangmo, T. (2015). Informing patients about limits to
confidentiality: A qualitative study in prisons. International Journal of Law &
Psychiatry, 4150-57. doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2015.03.007
Falcó-Pegueroles, A., Lluch-Canut, T., Roldan-Merino, J., Goberna-Tricas, J., & Guàrdia-
Olmos, J. (2015). Ethical conflict in critical care nursing. Nursing Ethics, 22(5), 594-607.
doi:10.1177/0969733014549883
Frerich, E. A., Garcia, C. M., Long, S. K., Lechner, K. E., Lust, K., & Eisenberg, M. E. (2012).
Health Care Reform and Young Adults' Access to Sexual Health Care: An Exploration of
Potential Confidentiality Implications of the Affordable Care Act. American Journal of
Public Health, 102(10), 1818-1821. Doi:10.2105/Ajph.2012.300857
Griffith, R. (2015). Understanding the Code: exceptions to the duty of patient
confidentiality. British Journal Of Community Nursing,20(7), 356-359
Hiriscau, I., Stingelin-Giles, N., Stadler, C., Schmeck, K., & Reiter-Theil, S. (2014). A right to
confidentiality or a duty to disclose? Ethical guidance for conducting prevention research
with children and adolescents. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 23(6), 409-416.
doi: 10.1007/s00787-014-0526-y
Laing, A., Hogg, G., & Winkelman, D. (2005). The Impact Of The Internet On Professional
Relationships: The Case Of Health Care. Service Industries Journal, 25(5), 675-687. Doi:
10.1080/02642060500101021. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.
Latour, J. M., & Albarran, J. W. (2012, May). Privacy, dignity and confidentiality: a time to
reflect on practice. Nursing in Critical Care. pp. 109-111. doi:10.1111/j.1478-
5153.2012.00508.x.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Lowth, M. (2013). Confidentiality in the modem NHS: Part 2. Practice Nurse, 43(11), 49-52.
Marsh, H., & Reynard, J. (2009). Patient confidentiality: ethical, legal and regulatory
responsibilities. BJU International, 104(2), 164-167. doi:10.1111/j.1464-
410X.2009.08608.x McCullough, J., & Schell-Chaple, H. (2013). Maintaining Patients' Privacy and Confidentiality
With Family Communications in the Intensive Care Unit. Critical Care Nurse, 33(5), 77-
79. doi:10.4037/ccn2013310
Munns, C., & Basu, S. (2013). The NHS Information Revolution: ‘Choice of Control’ to
‘Choice’ and ‘Control’. International Review Of Law, Computers & Technology, 27(1/2),
124-160. doi:10.1080/13600869.2013.764132
Repetto, J. B., Gibson, R. W., Lubbers, J. H., Gritz, S., & Reiss, J. (2008). Practical Applications
of Confidentiality Rules to Health Care Transition Instruction. Remedial & Special
Education, 29(2), 118-126.
Richardson, V., Milam, S., & Chrysler, D. (2015). Is Sharing De-Identified Data Legal? The
State Of Public Health Confidentiality Laws And Their Interplay With Statistical
Disclosure Limitation Techniques. Journal Of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 4383-86.
Doi:10.1111/Jlme.12224
Schmidlin, K., Clough-Gorr, K. M., & Spoerri, A. (2015). Privacy Preserving Probabilistic
Record Linkage (P3rl): A Novel Method For Linking Existing Health-Related Data And
Maintaining Participant Confidentiality. Bmc Medical Research Methodology, 15(1), 1-
10. Doi: 10.1186/S12874-015-0038-6
Taylor, R. (2015). Beyond Anonymity: Temporality And The Production Of Knowledge In A
Qualitative Longitudinal Study. International Journal Of Social Research
Methodology, 18(3), 281-292. Doi:10.1080/13645579.2015.1017901
Veitch, K. (2010). The Government of Health Care and the Politics of Patient Empowerment:
New Labour and the NHS Reform Agenda in England. Law & Policy, 32(3), 313-331.
doi:10.1111/j.1467-9930.2010.00321.x
Wartenberg, D., & Thompson, W. D. (2010). Privacy Versus Public Health: The Impact Of
Current Confidentiality Rules. American Journal Of Public Health, 100(3), 407-412.
Whiteman, I. A. (2015). The Decline Of Medical Confidentiality Medical Information
Management: The Illusion Of Patient Choice. Clinical Ethics, 10(3), 47-58. Doi:
10.1177/1477750915591293. Patient Data Anonymity in NHS Essay.