Family Locator App a HIPAA Violation?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Home health.

Hi,

I have a family locator app installed on my phone (at the request of my parents). It isn't accurate to specific addresses, but it does let my family know where I am to within a hundred meters or so.

As a home health nurse, could this be considered a HIPAA violation? I like having the app on my phone because it makes me feel a bit safer about entering random homes if my loved ones at least know my general location. I know I can't release patient addresses as part of HIPAA compliance, but is letting someone know my general location considered the same as telling someone an address? Obviously my family knows nothing about any of my patients.

New technology makes these things a little confusing.

Thanks.

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If that were the case then my Onstar would be a HIPAA violation, or my cell phone, or Google Earth... I mean you have big brother knowing where you are whether you know it or not. Are you going up to people saying... Hey, btw I have this "family locator" app on my phone? Do you expect one of your family members to come bust in a pts home? If not, I wouldn't say a word.

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Specializes in Home Health.

My Android, company issued, would be in violation too. When it comes to safety, I'm not paying attention to HIPAA. The information is about where I am, not who I am with!

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

I don't see that its a problem if its used because you haven't been heard from for longer than usual. But if its used because someone is being nosy, that's a violation.

I use an app called where's my Droid. It lets me text a phrase to my phone to find it. 2 trusted people have the phrase. The phrase will send my gps coordinates and address. Its meant to find my phone, but could possibly find me if I was harmed and my phone was near me.

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To be a HIPPA violation you have to have two patient identifiers. So as long as you haven't given pt's name to your family which of course you shouldn't a family locator app would not be a HIPPA violation as you are not giving pt indentfiers. Plus it only gives coordinates and approximate location not exact address. That would be like if you got flat tire and gave AAA address it would be a HIPPA violation which it is not. If you gave pt's name without their express opinion to AAA then that would be. I use one I do travel home health and go into really cruddy neighborhoods and it updates my location every 15min. My old company had one on all our phones trying to catch medicare fraud.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

I've never heard that a violation has to have 2 identifiers. Are you sure?

If only one person in the world has a certain name and you use it, you have identified the pt. If only one pt in town has AIDS and you talk about the AIDS pt in town, you have identified the pt. Do you have a reference to the 2 identifiers?

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not a violation unless the app gives the address, name, and that you are there providing home health services. it's tracking you, not the patient.

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I just started in home health care in Detroit. Could you IM me the name of the app? Right now I leave a list at the office of whom I'm seeing and in what order and send a text to a love one saying I'm at X appointment and then another when I have left.

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