At Humana, we deal with confidential patient data. Tell me about a time you followed HIPAA regulations even when it wasn't easy or convenient to do so.
The HIPAA privacy rules are paramount in the healthcare industry. The amount of patient data you have access to is overwhelming. The interviewer wants to know that you maintain your patient's confidentiality at all costs. Make sure you show your understanding of the rules while displaying your integrity in upholding them.
Focus on providing an example when it was not convenient or easy to maintain a patient's confidentiality, but you did. For example, you may have had a situation where family members or friends asked about a patient's condition without the patient's approval. In that case, describe how you handled the situation while maintaining the patient's privacy.
"I always follow HIPAA regulations and protect my patient's privacy, even when it is not convenient to do so. I had a situation recently where a patient's estranged daughter contacted me, asking for a copy of her mother's medical records. I told her I would need written permission from the patient, and she became angry with me and threatened to call my administrator. I told her I was following HIPAA regulations and could not release the information without written consent and advised her to contact my supervisor. My supervisor backed me up, and my patient refused to permit her medical records to be released."
