What is a potential violation of HIPAA standards pertaining to computerized health records?

Allowing unauthorized access to electronic protected health information (e-PHI) constitutes a potential violation of HIPAA standards because it directly compromises the confidentiality and security of sensitive patient data. Under HIPAA, healthcare organizations are mandated to implement safeguards to protect e-PHI, which includes ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to such information. When individuals who are not authorized to view e-PHI gain access, it results in a breach of patient confidentiality and violates the Privacy Rule established by HIPAA.

While sharing information without consent and transmitting records without encryption also represent violations of HIPAA guidelines, the focus on unauthorized access particularly emphasizes the importance of enforcing access controls and maintaining secure systems to safeguard patient information. Errors made by healthcare staff might lead to breaches but do not inherently indicate a violation of HIPAA unless they result in unauthorized access or disclosure of patient information. Therefore, the emphasis on preventing unauthorized access aligns directly with HIPAA's core objectives of protecting the integrity and privacy of health information.