Can I write to a deceased patients family?

[Rn112389]

Hello, I work in a hospital and had a patient pass unexpectedly under my care for natural causes. The family went out of there way to send me a card and a small token to show their appreciation for my support during this most difficult time. Am I overstepping any boundaries by sending the family a sympathy card /thanks for this nice gesture? In doing this I would need to find their address from medical records or my manager. What do you think? Thankyou

[NurseDirtyBird]

It's one thing if it's a sympathy card sent by the facility, signed by all staff. It's something totally different if it's from one individual. I wouldn't, especially because you would have to get the info from the medical record without needing it to provide care - a HIPAA violation.

A previous poster mentioned condolences through the funeral home. As the name of the funeral home is usually published in the obit, that might be a route you could take.

Ask your manager. You may be seen as a representative of the facility in doing this, and they may not like it if it's done without their knowledge.

[Poochiewoochie]

Lovely thought, however, unless you knew them outside of the facility, don't do it. If you have to get an address from the record, that is where it gets into violation territory. I am sure that when presented with a card and gesture that you said some nice words, thanked them well, expressed your sympathy on their loss. That is enough.

That's what I thought too. I think that point was missed in some of the replies. I would be more concerned about violating HIPAA than the possibility that someone I said in a sympathy note might come back to haunt me at a later date.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I imagine it would be perfectly possible to find their address from a public source or to forward from a funeral home (don't know which one? check the obits in the newspaper archives online), and a card with a simple message along the lines of what amoLucia describes is fine. You say your manager provided the family with a way to contact you? Well, then.