A student asks for assistance on an assignment, trying to develop a nursing diagnosis. The student gives a set of assessment data (focused respiratory, age, gender, history, height weight, and a few lab values). None of the 18 Patient Identifiers are included in the information (age is less than 89 years, so it is not considered an identifier). It is not mentioned that this is for a clinical assignment, or that the information provided pertains to an actual patient. There is no facility listed, no demographic information.
Is this a HIPAA violation, or a breach of patient confidentiality?
It was a post, made in a group of classmates - all working on similar assignments. A "closed" social media group - of classmates - where information regarding assignments, upcoming lectures/ labs/ etc. is shared amongst the classmates.
The program touches on HIPAA policy, during 1st semester orientation. By "touches on," I mean they tell us: "Know HIPAA. Here is a website. Review it. Complete the online quiz, print the results page & submit it to your instructor within the first week of class."
The program is a 2 year ADN. It was started in 2009. There have been numerous changes to faculty and curriculum, in the last few years, as they are still trying to work out the kinks, so to speak.
You are correct in assuming that I was the student that made the post. It was foolish to think that because it was in a closed group of peers, that it would be acceptable to ask for assistance. Social media is social media, as I have learned. I did try to contact a faculty member, for assistance, but never received a response, and the deadline was fast approaching.
Apologies were made, to the Division, for the breach of policy. However, it was reported to the facility as a possible HIPAA violation, and I am awaiting a meeting with their internal audit department. Let me state, the information that I referenced was NOT accessed from a patient chart. The information was provided to me, by a RN preceptor, during a clinical rotation. I don't even know the identity of the patient, if it was truly a patient. As far as I know, the information could have been something the preceptor just made up.
I know what disingenuous means, without needing to "(look it up)." Thanks, though. Having made the original post, in a closed group of my nursing program classmates (yes, it WAS me), I thought that I was seeking advice from friends (HA!) in a forum that was "okay," as it had been mentioned during our 1st semester orientation that "previous classes had found it helpful to establish a closed FB group, in which to seek assistance, from one another."
I know what disingenuous means, without needing to "(look it up)." Thanks, though. Having made the original post, in a closed group of my nursing program classmates (yes, it WAS me), I thought that I was seeking advice from friends (HA!) in a forum that was "okay," as it had been mentioned during our 1st semester orientation that "previous classes had found it helpful to establish a closed FB group, in which to seek assistance, from one another."
As far as Facebook is concerned, make it a secret group. Ours was but we never discussed specifics about assignments on it and if anything negative was said about an instructor/classmate, it was immediately deleted by the administrator of the group (just happened to be me).
Things in Facebook aren't as secret or as private as you think they are. You have to be VERY careful what you put in there.
thunigan
4 Posts
It was a post, made in a group of classmates - all working on similar assignments. A "closed" social media group - of classmates - where information regarding assignments, upcoming lectures/ labs/ etc. is shared amongst the classmates.
The program touches on HIPAA policy, during 1st semester orientation. By "touches on," I mean they tell us: "Know HIPAA. Here is a website. Review it. Complete the online quiz, print the results page & submit it to your instructor within the first week of class."
The program is a 2 year ADN. It was started in 2009. There have been numerous changes to faculty and curriculum, in the last few years, as they are still trying to work out the kinks, so to speak.
You are correct in assuming that I was the student that made the post. It was foolish to think that because it was in a closed group of peers, that it would be acceptable to ask for assistance. Social media is social media, as I have learned. I did try to contact a faculty member, for assistance, but never received a response, and the deadline was fast approaching.
Apologies were made, to the Division, for the breach of policy. However, it was reported to the facility as a possible HIPAA violation, and I am awaiting a meeting with their internal audit department. Let me state, the information that I referenced was NOT accessed from a patient chart. The information was provided to me, by a RN preceptor, during a clinical rotation. I don't even know the identity of the patient, if it was truly a patient. As far as I know, the information could have been something the preceptor just made up.