I work flex at an outpatient facility for depressed senior citizens. They are usually in the program from 6 to 10 months. Generally, everyone in the group gets along well and many of them become friends while in the program.
One of the patients was moving out-of-state and wanted mailing addresses from her friends in the group so they could keep in touch. So she passed around a handout that she had used that morning and 7 of them wrote their addresses down for her on the back of the handout sheet.
She has bad eyesight and couldn't read a few of the addresses and asked me if I would type them for her in large bold print.
I took her list home, typed it on my computer, printed it out on my printer, and dropped it off the next morning for her.
My boss, the program director, has been written up for this. (She knew of this and saw no problem -- nor did I....or my other 2 coworkers). The regional director heard about it and reported it to corporate headquarters saying we broke the HIPAA "law". She says we gave out patient info.
I did NOT get any info from charts or the patients. I just took her paper and typed it for her at home. The patients gave their own info.
Any HIPAA experts out there?
I feel terrible. My boss is wonderful and I think this is abit overboard!! If what I did was wrong, tell me please!!!
I don't see a HIPAA violation here. The information was supplied by the pt, not the other way round. You just typed the information she already had. Someone is stirring the pot.
Thanks for your replies. This has escalated beyond belief!!
I'm being told that I violated HIPAA by typing up the addresses -- that I shouldn't have involved myself in the address exchange. I'm okay with that.....but I don't think it is officially a "violation."
I'm going to try to find someone to contact that knows about HIPAA regulations (outside this corporation).
That is a load of whooey. for lack of a nicer word! You did nothing wrong, but you can email this site to find out what is really what in this situation.
For something to be a HIPPA violation, there must be a divulgence of confidential information. Clearly, when people voluntarily give out information voluntarily for a specific purpose, there was not a divulgence of anything confidential. Your manager is jumping to some pretty bad conclusions here.
It looks totally innocent to me too, but dealing with corporations and $$$ marks floating before their eyes, they might be acting to protect their corporate tushie.
Honest to goodness, these hippa rules seem to be used by some individuals to justify their job. Are they going to be turned into mindless buruocracy (sp?) just to keep some pencil pushers employed? I would definately contest the write-up. We are health care workers- not thoughtless, mindless machines who function by blindly following what other people interpret to be the rules. Personally, I think it was nice of you to type that list so that your patient was able to read it.
HIPPAcrites! I tell you, another complicated law for the ignorant to rant about. My son went for his annual physical (he is 10). They weighed and measured him in the anteroom to the exam room (behind the desk and privacy windows). He said "Mom, how much do I weigh?" - I said "I don't know I couldn't see the scale - how much does he weigh (to the assistant)?". She put her finger to her lips, and motioned me into the exam room, closed the door, and whispered the number "HIPPA, you know" she said. "I can't divulge personal information". If I hadn't been so taken aback, I would have laughed. What I really can't believe is that someone higher up has taken this seriously - they really should know better.
you did not get the list from client records, but clients volunatarily provided info. in their own handwriting. Plus, you did not verify any info for accuracy or include medical information. The law says don't share information without client's permission, which you had. If we refused to do any and every little thing like you mentioned then we would be dehumanizing our clients, in my opinion.
nialloh, RN
382 Posts
I don't see a HIPAA violation here. The information was supplied by the pt, not the other way round. You just typed the information she already had. Someone is stirring the pot.