AST Guideline - Use of Mobile Information Technology in the Operating Room

12 Guideline VI CSTs should complete continuing education regarding HIPAA regulations and the risks associated with the use of mobile devices. 1. Surgery departments should provide annual continuing education for OR personnel to complete regarding the review of HIPAA regulations and the Privacy Rule to ensure that they are strictly adhered to on a daily basis. A. The continuing education should include the appropriate use of MIT, social media, and OR computers as well as patient privacy and PHI policies. 1) The surgery department should document the completion of the continuing education in the file of each OR personnel. 2. Surgery departments should provide annual continuing education for OR personnel regarding unsafe practices that could introduce malware into a mobile device and OR computer that could compromise patient data, eg opening suspicious attachments or clicking on unreliable Internet links. 3. The continuing education should be based upon the concepts of adult learning, referred to as andragogy. Adults learn best when the information is relevant to their work experience; the information is practical, rather than academic; and the learner is actively involved in the learning process. 64 4. It is recommended surgery departments use various methods of instruction to facilitate the learning process of CSTs A. If the education is primarily lecture, methods to engage learners include presentation of case studies for discussion, and audience discussion providing suggestions for reinforcing the proper use of MIT. B. Other proven educational methods include interactive training videos, and computerized training modules and teleconferences. C. The continuing education should be delivered over short periods of time, such as in modules, and not in a one-time lengthy educational session. 5. Continuing education programs should be periodically evaluated for effectiveness including receiving feedback from surgery department personnel. 6. The surgery department should maintain education records for a minimum of three years that include dates of continuing education; names and job titles of employees that completed the continuing education; synopsis of each continuing education session provided; names, credentials, and experience of instructors.