Are call backs HIPAA violations?

Ruthiegal · Feb 15, 2009

Do you have to say why you are calling in the message? Can you just say this is Nurse, RN from Charity Hosp. doing a follow up, please give me a call when you can. leave phone# and extension if possible or I will try again at a later time.

I can't see why you would have to give details of why you are calling. I do telephone triage and when we do follow up calls, we just say this is Nurse, RN, following up. I can be reached at "phone# and extension", and I will try again at a later time. Just a thought.

As far as HIPPA if you are not leaving details of why there were seen, it is most likely not a violation.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Feb 15, 2009

Its all a slippery slope, personally I would be calling and if the patient is not home or you get no answer I would leave it at that. When you start leaving messages thats when the potential for a violation to occur may happen. Who knows if the patient told anyone that they were going to the hospital and if they did what for.

For example Bill goes to the ED for a STD and doesn't tell his sister and you call and leave a message and she gets it.

Rj

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2009

When I worked med surg we would do discharge call backs. If no answer I didn't leave a message. I would write on the form that "no answer" and leave it at that. I actually feel like the floor nurses/ER nurses time is better spent with patinet care.

Batman24 · Feb 15, 2009

We don't do them but if we did I wouldn't leave a message. It's a slippery slope and I wouldn't go down it.

nickos · Feb 15, 2009

This might be a dumb question, but what's the point of the call-back? Just to see how they are? Our discharges get typed, full discharge instructions with info on how to follow up if necessary. We are busy enough without calling THEM...

Dinsey · Feb 15, 2009

It sounds dangerous. What if someone were in a abusive/controlling home situation and the abuser did not want them getting treatment?

iwanna · Feb 16, 2009

I think at the time of treatment, you would ask if it was okay to leave a detailed message. Or, any type of message. This really can be decided at the time of treatment. Every appointment that I have ever had, I have been asked that question.

NeosynephRN · Feb 16, 2009

This might be a dumb question, but what's the point of the call-back? Just to see how they are? Our discharges get typed, full discharge instructions with info on how to follow up if necessary. We are busy enough without calling THEM...

It is all about Press Ganey...if they feel like you really cared enough to call, or you may be able to intercept a problem and "fix" it before they get that survey in hand....JMO!!

Pierrette · Feb 16, 2009

Leaving a message on an answering machine is okay, provided you use good professional judgment. There are exceptions, however. See this exact explanation at HHS website:

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/faq/providers/smaller/198.html

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2009

We do callbacks on our outpatient surgery pts. Generally it just gathers data for our QC department. However, occasionally we help pt's who are having problems or have questions. I had one pt who'd developed a spinal headache. I was able to help them get in touch with the anesthesiologist for followup.

By our policy, we do not leave a message if we get an answering machine.

rngolfer53 · Feb 16, 2009

It sounds dangerous. What if someone were in a abusive/controlling home situation and the abuser did not want them getting treatment?

Caller ID can clue in someone that a person has contacted a hospital, even if no message is left.