Privacy and Security Community of Practice

As Health Information Managers and Clinical Coders who work across a variety of domains in health, we are all highly aware of the need to treat people’s information with the utmost respect. Not everyone in the organisation is aware of this, however. There are still many anecdotal stories about privacy breaches that we hear on the Privacy and Security Community of Practice meetings. It is a real concern that in 2022 we are still discussing and writing about the same issues related to privacy.

There really is no simple solution, however we can all take part in trying to highlight concerns or issues at our workplaces. You don’t have to do anything too complicated, just get the conversation started and develop some resources. Posters used to be put up about privacy but you can now of course ask your organisation to put information up electronically. Other ways include joining in such things as a toolbox meeting, talking to executive meetings, raising issues in your HIM network meeting or with your senior HIM and so on. From our experience people are more invested in the issue when there is a story attached to it, plus the outcomes. If you just quote legislation then people quickly tune out.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) also holds a Privacy Awareness Week once a year. This year HIMAA have partnered to promote this week that is held from the 2 to 8 May 2022. The theme of this year is ‘Privacy: The foundation of trust” There are resources that you can obtain to promote this week if your organisation signs up as a PAW supporter, you can also contact the HIMAA office to obtain information about resources as well.

A survey conducted by the OAIC in 2020 demonstrated that for more than 70% of consumers privacy was a major concern and that 87% wanted a greater control over the handling of their personal information. Other topics that were covered included, children’s privacy, privacy reform and data practices. You can read this report here: https://www.oaic.gov.au/updates/news-and-media/australians-want-more-control-over-privacy-survey-shows.

The OAIC are also running other events which are highlighted on their website, you can register online at OAIC Privacy Awareness Week launch (rdbk.com.au). There are also many more interesting events, including presentations from OVIC and the Queensland Information Commissioner.

We hope that these events and Privacy Awareness Week give you some great ideas and given the theme that our national conference is taking this year-keeping health information human, the idea of trust ties in really well and brings back the human element!

Privacy and Security Community of Practice

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Phone: +61 9887 5002

Email: news@himaa.org.au

Level 1, Building 17, 51 Wicks Road North Ryde NSW 2113