What is required from a healthcare worker with respect to patient health information?

The requirement for a healthcare worker regarding patient health information is to ensure minimal data disclosure necessary for their duties. This means that healthcare workers must only access and share patient information that is essential for them to perform their responsibilities effectively. This principle is rooted in the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations, which emphasize the importance of protecting patient privacy and confidentiality.

By limiting access and disclosure of health information to only what is necessary, healthcare workers help to safeguard sensitive data and respect patients' rights to privacy. This practice is essential in building trust between patients and healthcare providers, as it demonstrates a commitment to handling personal health information responsibly and ethically.

Unrestricted access to all patient records, allowing patients to view all internal records, or sharing information without patient knowledge would compromise patient confidentiality and violate HIPAA regulations, which aim to protect individuals' health information from unauthorized access and ensure that it is handled appropriately.