You have been assigned to investigate whether or not an empl…

You have been assigned to investigate whether or not an employee at a local hospital has been accessing patient records and setting information to online pharmacies. It is your first day of the investigation. Put together a list of data sources that must be examined during the investigation.

Answer

Title: Investigative Analysis of Employee’s Access to and Disclosure of Patient Information

Introduction:

The unauthorized access and disclosure of patient information pose significant risks to the healthcare system, jeopardizing patient privacy and breaching confidentiality regulations. As an investigator, it is essential to identify the data sources pertaining to an employee’s potential illicit activities, such as accessing patient records and setting information to online pharmacies. By comprehensively examining relevant data sources, we can gather evidence to substantiate or refute these allegations. This research aims to delineate key data sources that must be scrutinized during the investigation of illicit activities by an employee at a local hospital.

Data Sources for Examination:

1. Electronic Health Records (EHR):

The primary data source for patient information within a hospital setting is the electronic health records system. Examining the employee’s login activities, authentication records, and audit logs can provide crucial evidence of unauthorized access and manipulation of patient records. Particular focus should be given to identifying any patterns of access, discrepancies in medical documentation, or unusual activities indicating potential unauthorized disclosure or alteration.

2. Access Controls and Logins:

Reviewing the hospital’s access controls and login records can help identify any anomalies in user access and potentially link specific actions to the employee under investigation. This investigation should encompass authentication logs, server access logs, user access privileges, and any modifications made to user accounts. Identifying any discrepancies, such as unauthorized access or suspicious login activities, can strengthen allegations against the employee.

3. Pharmacy Order Data:

If the allegations involve the setting of patient information to online pharmacies, obtaining pharmacy order data is crucial. Obtaining records and logs of prescription orders and deliveries from both internal and external pharmacies can help verify whether any fraudulent activities have taken place. This may require analyzing electronic prescription systems, pharmacy supply chain records, shipping logs, and communication records with pharmacies.

4. Communication Records:

Examining communication records can provide insights into potential collaborations or communications between the employee and external entities, including online pharmacies. Analyzing any email exchanges, call logs, instant messaging platforms, or correspondence via internal communication systems can help establish a link between the employee and the alleged illicit activities. Additionally, cross-referencing communication records with relevant timestamps can help identify any communication patterns coinciding with unauthorized access to patient records.

5. Financial Records:

Investigating financial records can unveil potential financial incentives for the employee’s illicit activities. Reviewing the employee’s financial transactions, such as bank statements, credit card records, or transactional records, can help identify any suspicious payment activities, including payments from online pharmacies or transactions related to the sale of patient information.

6. Surveillance and Access Control Systems:

Monitoring surveillance footage and access control systems within the hospital premises can provide supplementary evidence of the employee’s physical movement, timing, and access to restricted areas. Reviewing camera footage can potentially aid in corroborating time-stamps of suspicious activities identified in other data sources.

Conclusion:

In order to investigate an employee’s alleged unauthorized access and disclosure of patient information, comprehensive examination of multiple data sources is required. Analyzing electronic health records, access controls, pharmacy order data, communication records, financial records, and surveillance footage will facilitate the identification of irregularities and enhance the strength of collected evidence. By conducting a meticulous investigation, we can ascertain the veracity of the allegations and take necessary actions to mitigate risks and protect patient confidentiality in a healthcare environment.