title: Ready for HIPAA? Take steps to protect patient privacy before it's too late.
abstract: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) will become effective April 2003 and will require you to address patient privacy issues throughout your ED. Use sign-in sheets that conceal the patient's name. Give patients beepers instead of calling out names in the waiting room. Use a special code to give patients additional privacy.
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D020408:Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; D006747:Hospital Communication Systems / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010934:Planning Techniques; D014481:United States