Thompson Covers Nahra Speech at IAPP D.C. KnowledgeNet

Thompson Publishing Group newsletter, Employer's Guide to HIPAA Privacy Requirement, was on hand for the IAPP's Washington, D.C. KnowledgeNet meeting on January 16, and included comments by Kirk Nahra, CIPP, of Wiley Rein LLP, whose presentation at the event was on electronic health records.

Nahra's presentation touched on potential shortcomings of HIPAA with regard to EHR and the impact on vendors, patients and employers.

"The ongoing movement toward electronic personal health records (PHRs) and related products is raising privacy questions that may bring about a broader review of HIPAA and other health privacy issues," the newsletter said. "'There are real specific benefits to these records,' but employers and other potential PHR sponsors face 'an interesting business dilemma because we've got a market that's moving ahead quickly,' said Kirk Nahra."

IAPP Cited in San Francisco Chronicle Profile of Joanne McNabb

When the San Francisco Chronicle profiled Joanne McNabb, CIPP/G, chief of California's Office of Privacy Protection, it included the IAPP's recognition of McNabb's privacy advocacy efforts.
"[McNabb] is most proud of her office's advice to businesses, a collection of best practices that address issues — like how to notify people when their data are exposed — where 'there was previously no guidance at all,' she said. The practices were cited in an award this year from the International Association of Privacy Professionals," the Chronicle reported.

"''A business may not always like a particular privacy-related law,' the citation award said, 'but the level of guidance and support given (by the California privacy office) is unmatched.'"

Arizona Names Mary Beth Joublanc State's First CPO

When Arizona saw fit to appoint the state's first chief privacy officer, they selected IAPP member Mary Beth Joublanc to fill the role.

The state's Government Information Technology Agency (GITA) Web site announced the January 15 appointment and Joublanc's extensive list of bona fides, including her 30 years as an attorney focused on healthcare law, corporate compliance and risk management. Joublanc previously served as privacy officer for Catholic Healthcare West CareConnect. Joublanc's membership in the IAPP was included among her list of relevant achievements.