Hipaa question

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I have a question about hipaa.

I was on my way to clinical and saw my boyfriends aunt and uncle in the lobby of the hospital. We started talking and they told me to say hi to my boyfriend for them. I am not sure if I am allowed to say anything to him. He would know I saw them at the hospital without me saying so and I normally would not even think twice about it, knowing that it would be a violation to tell him, but she asked me and I didn't see them as a patient but on their way to visit a friend.

If anyone had some insight on this I'd appreciate it. I know that they will say something to him the next time they see him but was wondering if it violated any laws, being that it wasn't as a patient and they asked me to.

Thank you

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Hipaa protects individuals’ medical records and other personal health information -these folks were in the hospital visiting a friend-disclosing that info is not a violation.If one of them was a patient and you disclosed that fact without their permission it would be a violation.

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If THEY asked you to say hi to your boyfriend/their nephew, then it is OK, as it was their choice to bring it up.

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I ran into this with a patient who wanted me to tell my mom he and his family said hi. I chose not to deliver the message because many of my moms circle of friends knew this patient and his family. I realize that me telling her he was a patient at my hospital could potentially spread news about his hospitalization. I think when it isn't clear cut, even if the patient or family member gives you permission, the best thing is to simply use good judgement.

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Thanks so much! Truly appreciate it :)

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They are not patients. There is nothing to violate. If someone asks what they were doing in the hospital, you simply saw them in the lobby and they asked you to say 'Hi'.

We are all getting a bit paranoid about this stuff. It's his family, after all, and you have no 'protected information' to reveal. Simply being at a hospital is not enough.

Tell your boyfriend 'hi' from them.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I have a question about hipaa.

I was on my way to clinical and saw my boyfriends aunt and uncle in the lobby of the hospital. We started talking and they told me to say hi to my boyfriend for them. I am not sure if I am allowed to say anything to him. He would know I saw them at the hospital without me saying so and I normally would not even think twice about it, knowing that it would be a violation to tell him, but she asked me and I didn't see them as a patient but on their way to visit a friend.

If anyone had some insight on this I'd appreciate it. I know that they will say something to him the next time they see him but was wondering if it violated any laws, being that it wasn't as a patient and they asked me to.

Thank you

HIPAA is the protection of medical information and records that the government considers "Protected Healthcare Information" not who is in street clothes walking around the hospital visiting someone. They asked you to say hi to their nephew....you can say hi.

Now the example of what would be a HIPAA violation. "When I was caring for Mrs. White for my clinical yesterday, and she was in the hospital for her gall bladder I noticed your Aunt and Uncle visiting.....they said to say HI!"

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/privacysummary.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Insurance_Portability_and_Accountability_Act

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/m2e411a1.htm

These links may help...:)

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Thank you :)

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