CNA Focuses on Patient Privacy.

CHICAGO -- Recently, the CNA insurance companies issued a client bulletin to provide healthcare managers with risk management guidance on the privacy risks associated with patient communication via telephone and e-mail.

While telephone and e-mail facilitate contact with patients, they also may jeopardize privacy. To safeguard protected health information and minimize exposure to liability, it is critical to develop and implement written policies on appropriate, secure use of these basic communication tools.

This CNA bulletin presents guidelines for ensuring the security of transmitted information and the privacy of content. It discusses staff training and documentation requirements for electronic patient communication. In addition, the bulletin discusses protocols for communicating treatment advice, as well as guidelines for handling prescription requests, laboratory results and other special situations.

CNA is one of the nation's leading providers of medical liability insurance for healthcare providers and organizations. The new CNA bulletin is one of dozens of healthcare risk management publications available at www.cna.com. Click "Risk Control," "Client Materials," "Medical Services."

CNA is the country's seventh largest commercial insurance writer and the 13th largest property and casualty company. CNA's insurance products include standard commercial lines, specialty lines, surety, marine and other property and casualty coverages. CNA services include risk management, information services, underwriting, risk control and claims administration. For more information, please visit CNA at www.cna.com. CNA is a registered service mark, trade name and domain name of CNA Financial Corporation.