NY Times article about HIPAA impact

Nurses HIPAA

Published

This article focuses on the issue of baby photos displayed in medical offices, in case anyone is interested.

I noticed that the NYT writes "Hipaa" instead of "HIPAA," appearing to treat it as a word rather than an acronym. While far from perfect, the NYT is generally careful about language usage; I presume this is intentional.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/nyregion/baby-pictures-at-doctors-cute-sure-but-illegal.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSum&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

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Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN

6 Articles; 11,658 Posts

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Better Hipaa than HIPPA, which seems to be the most common mistake.

Semolina

68 Posts

I just googled and found this explanation of the Times' usage, which I had failed to notice despite reading the Times fairly often.

The Grammarphobia Blog: Why doesn't the NY Times capitalize AIPAC?

psu_213, BSN, RN

3,878 Posts

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
I just googled and found this explanation of the Times' usage, which I had failed to notice despite reading the Times fairly often.

The Grammarphobia Blog: Why doesn't the NY Times capitalize AIPAC?

So, as a geek, I actually find this article quite interesting. Not sure the NYT has the authority to make the 4 letter rule "canon." Probably just the liberal media's sense of superiority. :sneaky: (just--sorta--kidding of course) It seems to me to make more sense to capitalize the letters that stand for proper nouns--like the I in AIPAC stands for Israel, so I would think it should be capitalized. So it doesn't look silly, the entire thing should probably be capitalized then. Since nothing in HIPAA, or Hippa, is a proper noun, I would think it is OK to not capitalize those letters. JMHO

klone, MSN, RN

14,786 Posts

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

But an acronym is typically capitalized

ETA: (or, eta, as it were)

I stand corrected. Bravo, NYT. You are of superior intellect than I.

However, it is also a fact that many acronyms do not stand for proper nouns and thus are never to be capitalized in their written-out forms. The acronym ATM, for example, is rendered as "automatic teller machine," CD as "compact disc" or "certificate of deposit," PI as "private investigator," APB as "all-points bulletin," UHF as "ultra-high frequency," and so on. Likewise, in sentence 3 in the opening exercise, the phrase "frequently asked questions" in the write-out for the acronym FAQ should not be capitalized.

http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/011309capitalizationinsentences.htm

klone, MSN, RN

14,786 Posts

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Oh oh ! But HIPAA is the title of an act, therefore, it's a proper noun! Shazam!

duskyjewel

1,335 Posts

Specializes in hospice.

Let's all start referring to said newspaper as the nyt and see how they like it. :p

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Well....back to the article....I think HIPAA/hipaa is sometimes gping too far. If the mother gave a picture of the baby for display it is permission. No HIPAA here.

klone, MSN, RN

14,786 Posts

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Well....back to the article....I think HIPAA/hipaa is sometimes gping too far. If the mother gave a picture of the baby for display it is permission. No HIPAA here.

But HIPAA compliance also requires a signed release form, along with an expiration date. None of the women who sent in photos of their babies actually signed a form allowing the photo to be displayed (implicit permission is apparently not good enough).

Semolina

68 Posts

More acronym info for geeks -- NYT copy editor explains.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/business/media/24asktheeditors.html?pagewanted=all

And if you are a geek and curious about this issue in the UK, from the Economist. First three paragraphs are interesting; rest is kinda TMI.

Abbreviations | The Economist

I think "Hipaa" looks weird but I doubt the NYT cares.

SeattleJess

843 Posts

Specializes in None yet..
Let's all start referring to said newspaper as the nyt and see how they like it. :p

:roflmao:

I love my New York Times and I love you poking a hole in its balloon even more!

duskyjewel

1,335 Posts

Specializes in hospice.
Better Hipaa than HIPPA, which seems to be the most common mistake.

That always makes me think of female hippoes. :sly:

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