RN as patient in own hospital

Nurses HIPAA

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A few months ago, I was a patient in the ER of the hospital where I work. Just a quick in and out, but for a reason I didn't wish anyone else but who was treating me to know about.

I never spoke to anyone outside of the ER on my visit. A few days ago another RN and I were talking and I found out that my manager had told her about my ER visit. And even embelished and fabricated some of the details (to make the story more entertaining I guess...). My manager told this RN that I had called and told her (which I didn't) and the details my manager knew, she would have only known by looking into the nurses notes from my chart or speaking to ER staff (which I don't think is the case.).

This can't be okay, right? What options do I have?

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No, it is not OK. Managers are subject to the same HIPAA regs as the staff, and that includes discussing patient info with staff that is not involved in the patient's care. Is your charting done on a computer? If so, your Information Technology dept would be able to tell if your Manager accessed your chart. Your facility will have a Privacy Officer, you will need to tell the Privacy Officer your suspicions. It is the responsibility of the Privacy Officer to investigate and take action on any HIPAA violation complaints. Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.

Wow, how unprofessional! And then she told another nurse? Big trouble. I would do as PP suggested. Go to the privacy officer and make a complaint.

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A few months ago, I was a patient in the ER of the hospital where I work. Just a quick in and out, but for a reason I didn't wish anyone else but who was treating me to know about.

I never spoke to anyone outside of the ER on my visit. A few days ago another RN and I were talking and I found out that my manager had told her about my ER visit. And even embelished and fabricated some of the details (to make the story more entertaining I guess...). My manager told this RN that I had called and told her (which I didn't) and the details my manager knew, she would have only known by looking into the nurses notes from my chart or speaking to ER staff (which I don't think is the case.).

This can't be okay, right? What options do I have?

We had a charge nurse fired from our facility for "verifying" (on her own, without authority) that someone that called in was in the ER at another facility in our system.

She accessed the chart without a need and that is a clear HIPAA violation.

REPORT IT! Call both HR and get the ball rolling. You have no idea of what kind of trouble she'll be in.

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Wow, how unprofessional! And then she told another nurse? Big trouble. I would do as PP suggested. Go to the privacy officer and make a complaint.

More than unprofessional...reportable to the BON.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

It is NOT necessary to report this to the BON....please go thru the HIPAA compliance office at your facility. The BON is NOT the first place to be reporting this to.

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

As much as we would like to believe everyone will follow the privacy guidelines, it doesn't happen. Obtaining information about yourself or someone else without authorization is a violation of HIPAA. You need to talk to your facility's privacy officer of your "concern" that someone accessed your health information record. With electronic record keeping, every log-in to a patient's file is recorded with the ID of the person who is doing the looking. It will be easy to have the privacy officer do an audit and see who all may have violated your privacy.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

Yup...report this within your organization.

Nursing does not need management with this poor judgment.

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You need to talk to your facility's privacy officer of your "concern" that someone accessed your health information record.

And not just accessed the record (which is bad enough by itself), but shared that info inappropriately with others.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

That's the downside of seeking tx where you work.I worked with anurse who had chronic health problems and everytime she was admitted this was a problem.She was a beloved memeber of the community and did die quite young from complications from her disease.I remeber the family posting hufge sings on her door "Absolutely NO VISITORS" because every time she was admitted everyone wanted to stop in and say "hello" and she was sooo ill and weak she wasn't up to it.And still some people on staff would ignore the sign and barge in-only to face the wrath of either her mother,sister or husband(they each took a shift and she was never alone) What are these people thinking? Do they think that just because they are your peers and co-workers the rules don't apply ? I would confront the manager first (with a witness) and then I might go to HR and make a complaint-but only if I was sure I would be comfortable with the fact that she could ultimately loose her job.Because that is usually what happnes. I don't think the seriousness of your condition should enter into your decision-you could have bunion surgery or cancer-you are still entitled to your privacy

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It is NOT necessary to report this to the BON....please go thru the HIPAA compliance office at your facility. The BON is NOT the first place to be reporting this to.

I wasn't suggesting that she goes straight to the BON, that would obviously be inappropriate.

However, the facility could take it that far, if they felt the situation warranted it.

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This is all just so wrong in so many ways, no question about it. I would report this person in a nanosecond.

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