HIPAA Question. Appropriate?

[beachbum3]

So I worked on Thurs, Fri, and yesterday. I noticed a pt I took care of on Thurs and Fri was still there. I asked the nurse how he was doing, as we thought he was going home Sat after removing his chest tube.

Is that a generally accepted thing or was I out of line? I know you aren't really supposed to have any info on a pt if you aren't taking care of them, but what if you have taken care of them during that stay? Do most nurses do this, or is it inappropriate?

Also, what about when you have taken care of a pt and they are still there when you come in for your next shift but are not your assignment, would you ever pop your head in their room to say hello and ask how they are?

[Nurse Salt]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel since we work as a team in the hospital we need to know basic things about the patients on our floor/unit. If he had moved to another floor I may feel differently, but I don't think you did anything wrong and I don't think there is anything wrong with checking in on him. In fact it will most definitely make him feel cared for as an individual... As long as you do not take the relationship out of professional context, entering another nurse's patient's room is not violating any "rule" I am aware of...

I'm interested to see what others have to say.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I do this all the time. We have antepartum patients in our unit all the time that are there for weeks/months. If I've got a special bond with one that's not assigned to me, I pop in to say hi and see how she's doing. :)

[Batman24]

I don't see either as a HIPAA violation. I always pop in and say hi to my previos patients. Let's the patients know you care about them. Many even comment how grateful they are about it.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Not inappropriate at all ... nurses, physicians & other caregivers do this all the time. Not a HIPAA violation.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I do believe if you would have gone into their chart and looked it would have been a violation, but popping your head in and saying hi requires the patient to tell you how they are doing (non HIPPA violating). This whole HIPPA thing is out of control. I think in fact sometimes it decreases patient care.

[NurseCard, ADN]

I do it all the time; ask other nurses on my unit how so-and-so patient is doing. Sometimes I even ask about patients who I've never taken care of personally, but perhaps have become well known on the unit.

Also, on my unit we really do work as a team and help take care of each others' patients so again, we get to know each others' patients.

I do feel less comfortable calling another unit to ask about a patient that I've taken care of, but many of us will call the ICU to inquire about a patient that we had to send there.

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

I frequently follow pts progress or setbacks while I am 'not their nurse' that shift, I also pop my head in and say hi -- just did it tonite, I don't think its a hippa violation, to follow the course of your pt, even when not assigned to them. I am a firm believer in pt privacy, I wouldn't even consider looking at a chart of a coworker, friend or even family member, but following a pt you've taken care of, why not, you care, are interested, maybe trying to learn a little also along the way

[daisey_may]

My 2 cents is that is not a HIPAA violation... (you're generally able to give the condition of a patient to a family member if the patient does not say it's not okay) but I do know of someone who was fired because in an email, one employee asked another how a patient was doing after a transfer from admitting to the floor. HIPAA is has a lot of gray area, easily interpreted in many ways (especially if you are looking to give someone a HIPAA violation!). I don't even think the patient's name was used...

Overall, I think it's good to be conscious of HIPAA in your situation (like no peeking in the chart or initiating contact outside of the hospital to see how a patient is doing) but I don't see how it could be a problem.

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

A common scenario on our floor is say you work two days, have team A. Off one day, come back, have team B. Off again, come back, have team A again, most of the patients are the same. Not only does keeping up on former patients while still on the floor help you help other nurses, it also makes it easier when you get them back again.

Hope that made sense; I just got off a horrible shift and am still recovering

[rn/writer, RN]

Last week I had a c-section patient with unusual pain management issues. As I left in the AM, there were several options that were going to be tried during the day. When I came back the next night and did not have her as a patient, I asked my coworker how the patient was doing and what they had done for her pain. I wanted to find out because I had been concerned for my patient, but also because residents sometimes ask us for recommendations, and I hoped to hear something I could file away for future reference should the situation occur again.

IMO, many of these situations fall under QA and/or continuity of care. And simple caring. It's unrealistic to expect nurses to act as if their patients--especially those who will be around for a while--disappear into the void when the shift ends.

That said, you have to exercise some discretion. Looking at the chart, accessing computer records, speaking in front of others who don't know the patient, conversing while off the unit--any of these can get you in trouble, but most of us know we shouldn't be doing them.

[dmore, RN]

I believe what you've done is not a HIPAA violation. If you had looked at any part of the client's medical record when they weren't assigned to you, then I would say you did violate HIPAA. I've been a nurse for over 22 years and I have always checked on clients on the unit even when they weren't assigned to me, but only to the extent to check on their well being and nothing more.