The New Confidentiality for the 21st Century in a Managed Care Environment

Abstract

As society becomes more dependent on technology to store and obtain information quickly and effectively, there has been increasing concern in the social work community about protecting privacy and maintaining confidentiality, especially in a managed care environment. The concept of confidentiality is very different in a technologically advanced environment. This article reviews relevant social work, legal, and other professional literature on confidentiality, technology, and managed care. A three-level topology of client problems and behaviors is delineated and illustrated through practice examples, which demonstrate the different types of information that can be computer stored and retrieved and electronically transmitted. The articles discussed the levels of security, including log-on procedures, firewalls, and encryption, which can be used at each level to protect sensitive information, and presents guidelines to help professionals protect and promote confidentiality within the constraints of technology and managed care.