Nurses HIPAA
Published Aug 10, 2014
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®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN
6 Articles; 11,658 Posts
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
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. (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
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
Oh oh ! But HIPAA is the title of an act, therefore, it's a proper noun! Shazam!
duskyjewel
1,335 Posts
Let's all start referring to said newspaper as the nyt and see how they like it.
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN
1 Article; 20,908 Posts
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).
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
I love my New York Times and I love you poking a hole in its balloon even more!
That always makes me think of female hippoes. :sly: