[acceptancekey]

Does anyone have any info on what and how much we can tell family members? What is a HIPAA violation? And how seriously are they taken? Is there anyone with experiance with a HIPAA violation? Is it ok to give nursing home administrators info on their patients that are hosptilized over the phone? It is all soooo confusing to me!!!

Thank you for any info!!
acceptancekey

[Chaya]

We have a form which designates a family member or friend to be the point person with whom medical info is discussed if the pt is unable. If the pt is mentally competent we are required to have the pt's permission to speak with friends /family members about their medical info.

[vamedic4]

Too bad there's no "cut and dried" policy with regard to Hipaa...just last week when my wife was a patient, I called to speak to her nurse and inquire about her condition and she gave me that "I can't talk to you about her condition" crap, even though it is very clear in her chart that I am to be kept informed as treatment progressed.
Can you say ....well...let's just say I cleared that one up on the day shift. It didn't help that the nurse was a total b about it either.


vamedic4

[Nurse Ratched]

Is it ok to give nursing home administrators info on their patients that are hosptilized over the phone?

HIPAA was not meant to interfere with continuity of care. Since the patient will likely be returning to same nursing home, and will probably require a pre-discharge visit from a staff person to insure they are still able to meet that resident's needs, I see no problem with disclosing to the designated rep from an ECF.

**Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer and your mileage with your supervisor may vary .