Medical Records, Patient Consent, and Information Management

As a public health director in a small county, you must maintain records that track diabetes rates, the incidence of HIV, and immunization records. Recently, there have been at least two breeches when computers were stolen from employees or an outside hacker broke into the system and downloaded data. Now you must write an open letter addressing the community and explain how the department is going to protect the information. I need help in addressing the following questions.

a. Explaining why the health department collects this information conveying the idea of how it serves the greater good. (applying critical thinking)

b. Discussing the public's interest in privacy and why this is important in our society.

c. Discussing why the department needs to infringe on the community's privacy.

d. Explaining how the department might ensure greater security.

e. Identifying at least one applicable regulation, statute, or source that supports the ability of the department to collect this information.

f. Scholarly references (3-4)