HIPAA violations unchecked ?

Senator Calls on Walgreens to Protect Patient Information

http://www.walgreensgonewrong.org/latest-updates/markey-walgreens

From the article:

In the wake of a recent report finding risk to patient privacy, drug security and public health at a new type of Walgreens pharmacy, Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) has penned a letter to the company questioning the model.

HIPAA-protected patient information, such as medical history, was left unattended or unsecured in 80% of store visits.

Does this suggest that the FEDS have finally taken notice – that a lot of us have been saying for years – that the vast majority of the BOP’s are totally ignoring their primary function of protecting the public’s health & safety… Is this just more collateral damage from what was uncovered with that NECC mess 1.5 yrs ago… and once the FEDS starting looking at how regulation of pharmacy and how pt’s health & safety is being ignored ?

Maybe all of us in pharmacy, like The Pharmacy Alliance – who have been “screaming” for years that the BOP’s are “toothless paper tigers” should thank those people that owned and operated New England Compounding Pharmacy and the MA BOP… that they were such a CLUSTER-F.. and being the genesis of getting the attention of the media and the FEDS.

We may not like where these non-Pharmacists take us.. but individually and collectively we refused or declined to stand up for the profession, ourselves and the patients that we are suppose to take care of.

One Response

  1. All of us in Pharmacists For Life Intl (www.pfli.org) have been screaming for 30 yrs that pharmacists need unfettered rights of conscience to do exactly what you are recommending: defend patient safety and their lives when interacting with any drug…without rights of conscience all these discussions remain academic and nothing fruitful will emerge from them.

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