Identify the core confidentiality and privacy obligations for Oklahoma podiatrists.

• A. Share patient information freely with family.
• B. Protect patient information in compliance with HIPAA, release records only with written consent or as legally required, safeguard electronic records, and implement reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.
• C. Post patient data publicly.
• D. Keep records without any security measures.

Answer: (B)

Confidentiality and privacy hinge on protecting patient information and sharing it only in lawful, appropriate ways. For Oklahoma podiatrists, the core framework comes from HIPAA, which sets national standards for safeguarding health information and securing electronic records. This means keeping patient data confidential, using it only for treatment, payment, or health care operations, and sharing it only to the extent necessary and with proper authorization.

Records should be released only with the patient’s written consent or as required by law, not freely. When electronic records are involved, practices must implement reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect that information—think access controls, secure systems, encryption where appropriate, regular training, and secure backups.

Sharing information with family without consent, posting patient data publicly, or maintaining records without proper security would violate these obligations.