Went to one of the mandatory HIPAA inservices we had the other day. I tell you this is about enough to make me want to get out of health care....I am all for patient's privacy and such but I think some of this has gone too far. We have been told at our hospital that we can't even inquire how a patient is doing, even if we had cared for that patient the day before. I like to know how the patients are doing...I really think it is great when the patient improves but I guess now I won't know anymore. I like to know that my nursing skills and care may have helped someone to regain their health or at least be able to cope with what has been handed to them. Is HIPAA going to make us a less caring profession? I don't about the rest of you, but it makes me feel like I have accomplished something when I know my patients are improving.....maybe I am just self-centered and conceited.
With all this HIPAA stuff, I am afraid to even look in my own patient's charts....wouldn't want to accidentally find something out that I am not suppose to know...I feel a major headache coming on....
Our privacy officer told us that complaints about HIPAA are going to be handled by the Office of Civil Rights, and that they are already receiving complaints about HIPAA violations and the law hasn't even gone into full effect......lawsuit city....wonder how many good healthcare professionals will leave their professions because of "unobtainable" goals for compliance?
