HIPAA compliance

ChainedChaosRN · Apr 14, 2003

Hi...we've changed quite a bit. We have had several inservices to get ready. All of our boards at the nurses stations have come down.

We used to sit things on top of the counter (where people lean) all the time...that has now stopped. We've ordered several shredders for nurses stations, offices etc. Nothing with a patients name on it can go in the trash.

Charts visible in the rack are acceptable. We do not use the loud speaker in our facility so that is not an issue for us. Computer monitors have been moved so the screen is never visible from the hall way etc.

The biggest problem we face is discussing residents in the break room and the smoking areas outside. We are a verbal lot. I think we have a long ways to go in this area.

ktwlpn, LPN · Apr 14, 2003

Originally posted by ChainedChaosRN
We've ordered several shredders for nurses stations, offices etc. Nothing with a patients name on it can go in the trash.

What do you do with all of your empty med boxes or cards or whatever you have?....aargh!

ChainedChaosRN · Apr 14, 2003

We are "supposed" to tear off the labels and into the shredder it goes. In all honesty its going to take any facility at least a year to get the major basics down pat.

LOL...i think aargh! is an understatement:)

ShortFuse_LPN, LPN · Apr 14, 2003

We have to mark through the names on the med cards with a black marker, which is a big pain. We can't give any info to anyone other than the POA which is also a PITA. lol For instance, one lady's daughter is POA but her hubby visits several times a day, and he was her primary care giver for 6 yrs before she was admitted. We can't even tell him how much she ate for lunch!

I agree with some of the regulation but some of it is beyond rediculous(sp?), in my opinion.

Huq · Apr 18, 2003

It seems that the interpretation of many of the new requirements is left to individual facilities. Several posts mention shredders. At our second inservice regarding HIPPA we were told "No more shredding. Every piece of paper must be saved" I pray that there is a huge storage area somewhere up there in the blue!

Faxes. Has anyone been able to make sense of regulations regarding the use?

We have been told that a fax requesting treatment etc: must be saved and clipped (Heaven forbid not stapled) to the same returned fax with the MD's response. Both to be stored with records. HELP PLEASE.

ChainedChaosRN · Apr 18, 2003

Hi Huq, we haven't been given any instructions on faxing other than there is a disclaimer sort of statement on the bottom of our fax sheets and email - says something to the fact this is private and confidential if you receive this in error please notify ###-####.

We have to send our medical records to a place that stored records for a fee for quite some time now. I can't imagine a place big enough for all my scrap paper, "my brains" and post it notes....sheesh.

ktwlpn, LPN · Apr 18, 2003

I don't believe that the state surveyors even know what they really want-the whole process is too subjective and adversarial-every nursing home I have worked in here in this area seems to be held to a different set of standards......As far as storing records every time they come in they want something moved-who knows what they'll want this year...God forbid they tell us no more shredding-Our DON will have a stroke if she has to pay to store records after we run out of room-and we have been shredding galore for years....

ChainedChaosRN · Apr 18, 2003

I went to a joint provider workshop about a month ago, the state said it doesn't fall under their jurisdiction to monitor. The best I got it, they made all of these rules, but every provider is supposed to monitor themselves. Oh yeah...that'll work....NOT :)

Actually I think it's going to come down to a set of rules to use to sue more hospitals, MDS', nursing homes etc.

Huq · Apr 18, 2003

Hello Chained Chaos.

You are so correct. All comes down to money. I bet the legal eagles are licking their lips in anticipation.

Be sure to keep up your malpractive insurance.

redhd5 · May 17, 2003

I hate this HIPPA thing. It has strained alot of the relationships that nurses have had with family members. What are we doing differently where I work? Not too much. We aren't supposed to give out info. to anyone but the POA for healthcare--if they have one.

The ambulances have been giving our residents a HIPPA brochure every time they ride with them. We just throw them away. We had a hospital send back a patient with a gown on and socks in a taxi cab!!! Is this compliant with HIPPA??? The nurse that sent her that was insisted she was told to do so by her superiors. Go figure that one out? They have given her a couple of pain shots. Imagine what COULD have happened.

I have been trying to be more sensitive to meeting patient's needs in a private area, with finger sticks, shots, and taking vital signs. But you gotta do what you gotta do when you have a heavy work load.