Why are medical records kept confidential?

Why are medical records kept confidential?

Arthur Shorr (Former COO and SVP of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) gives expert video advice on: Who owns my medical records?; What information does my medical record contain? and more...

Your privacy rights are very strictly enforced because federal law, called HIPAA, is designed to guarantee that your privacy will be respected by hospitals - by nurses, by office staff working in doctors offices - because we believe that is a very personal and private set of information. Even though many people in a hospital have access to your records, doctors nurses, technicians - all of us - accept the responsibility to keep the information about you very private. You have the right to believe that your record will not be read by anyone who is not involved in your care. You have the right to expect that your condition and medical record will not be discussed with anybody other that those that are involved with your care. As I said before, your privacy rights are guarantee by HIPAA, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.