HIPAA Help

[swansonplace]

Just wondering if a nurse receives a phone call, and the person on the other line asks if a patient xyz had been admitted.

Should this information be given.

The example I saw was a car accident, and a family member calls asking if their relative is in the hospital.

In my review it said the nurse could say if a patient was in the hospital. I understand the need for the info, but would not want to give any information over the phone about a patient.

Should a nurse tell a person over the phone is a patient is in the hospital?

[LiteCandles]

My understanding is it is okay as long as they are okay as being listed.

[swansonplace]

"Okay of being listed" - does that mean they give us the okay to let people know they are there?

[shortlilgirl02]

"Okay of being listed" - does that mean they give us the okay to let people know they are there?

From my understanding, it is ok as long as the patient isnt "confidential." Typically from what I have seen, the question about confidentiality is asked in the admission assessment. In one facility I worked in, confidential patients had a star next to their names in the computer system, and their name wasn't listed correctly on the board at the nurse's station. Instead of Fred Rogers, it would be John Doe. In another facility I've worked in, the patients are given a 4 digit code, the confidentiality code. If a person calls asking about a patient, but doesn't have the code, we cannot give out any information about the patient. I'm not sure what the parameters would be in the event of an emergency where the patient is unable to give consent.

[swansonplace]

So if the are not confidential and do not have a code, does that mean a nurse could let someone know the patient is in the hospital.

[FineAgain]

We have what is called a "no news". This means that the person does not want anyone to know they are there. In that case, we say, if someone calls, "I have no patient by that name". If they are not a "no news" you can confirm that they are there, and offer to connect them. In no case are you allowed to give any information about their diagnosis, condition, "how they are doing" or anything else.

[swansonplace]

Thanks. I see that you can say that someone is there is an okay has been given. Otherwise, I would say there is no patient here by that name.

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

This is a question best asked of your NM. Different facilities have different policies re this very thing.. Too many "rumors" or "hearsay", best to get the correct answer from your facility. We will state a pt is there as long as they are not confidential. No other information is given about dx, test etc without the pts consent.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

This is a question best asked of your NM. Different facilities have different policies re this very thing.. Too many "rumors" or "hearsay", best to get the correct answer from your facility. We will state a pt is there as long as they are not confidential. No other information is given about dx, test etc without the pts consent.

And even if the patient says, "You can tell my wife anything," you don't really know if the person on the phone really is the wife. Ask him if you can transfer the call to him.

Some facilities use a "secret code" thing, whereby each patient chooses a secret word which the patient then gives to whomever he wishes to know about his condition. Then whoever calls has to give the secret word (list kept at the desk) and no word, no info.

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

And even if the patient says, "You can tell my wife anything," you don't really know if the person on the phone really is the wife. Ask him if you can transfer the call to him.

Some facilities use a "secret code" thing, whereby each patient chooses a secret word which the patient then gives to whomever he wishes to know about his condition. Then whoever calls has to give the secret word (list kept at the desk) and no word, no info.

Very true, we do not give out information without the "password" over the phone regardless of what the "family caller" says. No password, the caller is asked to contact the family..I didn't go into detail re this post.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

One place I worked, the "secret code" was the name of the pt's attending. So people would call and say "This is David Pierce's wife, I was wondering how he was doing. Oh yeah, Doctor Alexander." Didn't exactly seem like a foolproof method to me, but that was the unit's policy. Another place I worked used the code "orange juice" for everyone. I would think you would need something more individualized. Where I work now, when the patient is being admitted, the get a PIN that they can share with whomever they want. The PIN is written in the chart, and information is only released by staff if that person calls in with the PIN.

Now, in the ER, it is a bit different since since our patients wouldn't be able to get a hold of many people to give out a PIN. A pt can make themselves a full block, meaning that staff cannot tell anyone that the person is even there. Staff can also make a patient a full block (such as domestic violence victims, people who are well known in the community, etc.). Otherwise, if a person is able to talk, I will take them a phone and they can update the caller as they see fit. Sometimes they tell me "you talk to them" and I will. If they are unable to communicate it gets a bit more thorny. How do we know that it is really a nurse from the patient's SNF and not some relative looking for a inside scoop so they can collect Aunt Tillie's money? Can we ever truly know that it is a person's wife on the phone versus someone with sinister motives calling about a pt? Not a very cut and dry issue.