Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Is this a HIPAA violation?

I have a friend on Facebook who works (not a nurse, but works at the desk) in the ER at a hospital in my area. She sometimes posts things on facebook that happen at work in the ER. Recently, I saw that she made a post about the shift she was working, the department she works in(ER), what her job is(checking pts in). It does say on her FB page which hospital she works in, but that info was not in the actual post I am referring to. So in this specific post, she wrote about something that happened that night in the ER. She was saying that a lady and child came in to the ER and she checked them in, the child was acting like she was abused she could tell by her body language. She wrote a long post about this an that CPS was called (not sure if the hospital called or she did on her own), an that she hopes the lady rots in h***. Anyway, she did not write any of their names or anything, but just told the story about what happened. Is that a HIPPA violation? I have just started nursing school and am really curious about this. I know I personally would NOT post that type of info, but still would like other input.

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    This person is not my coworker. I never asked or implied that I was interested in reporting this person to anyone. I was simply curious about it. I am not a whistle blower. I am a new nursing student. We have talked a bit about HIPPA and what is okay and not okay. I saw that post on FB this afternoon and got my wheels turning a little bit. I was curious, not angry or looking to turn her in.

    Thank you for your feedback.

    I know. My comments were not directed toward you, they were directed toward the person who thought we had taken some oath to protect the world from idiots. ;)

  • Quote

    It is and isn't a HIPPA violation. Depends....if I read it and knew who she was talking about...then Yess......if I don't know who she is refering to...No

    Social networking is getting people fired now a days for posting job related scenarios.....be careful!

  • Quote

    NOT a HIPAA violation. No PHI mentioned. But I do agree these things should not be mentioned on Facebook or any other blog in detail.

  • Quote
    Forget about HIPAA, and even forget about the hospital's own HR policies. What about the fact that she is stealing her employer's time on FB during paid work hours? That issue doesn't even seem to be on the radar screen anymore!

    But yes, I do think the privacy (and even potentially HIPAA) considerations are real in this case. And to the MYOB comment... The ANA code of ethics would be violated if the OP just "minded her own business." We take an oath to advocate for our patients and to do what is in our power to keep them from being harmed or abused. Failing to do something about a privacy breach goes against our code, and it also likely goes against the hospital HR policy that the OP is employed under.

    The ANA code has nothing to do with this as the person posting on FB was not a nurse. She was an admissions clerk.

  • Quote

    Didn't you just do the same thing your coworker did?

  • Quote
    Not a HIPAA violation but very poor judgment.

    Agree on both counts...

  • Quote
    HIPAA violation

    :yeah:

  • Quote
    I know. My comments were not directed toward you, they were directed toward the person who thought we had taken some oath to protect the world from idiots. ;)

    LOL !

    I was recently in a meeting where an identical scenario was discussed hypothetically. Our chief privacy officer says that Date of Service is considered to be an identifier and thus it is a HIPAA violation.

  • Quote
    • Author
    Didn't you just do the same thing your coworker did?

    Again, she is not my coworker. No, it is not the same thing at all...at least not from my a point of view. I don't do clinicals at the location where my friend works, nor am I employed there. Not to mention, I did not say what hospital it was, I just said in my area. So, I don't really think that is what is going on here, even unintentionally.

  • Quote
    Didn't you just do the same thing your coworker did?

    Even if this was a coworker....no, she didn't. We don't know her name or where she works. In which case there is no possible way we could know anything about the situation about which she is talking....

  • Quote
    • Author

    Okay, so maybe it is a HIPAA violation if she gave the date that the patient came into the hospital? I did find a list of HIPAA regulated patient identifiers and "dates" is on the list. Either way, it seems like there is a fine line that she seems VERY close to crossing.

  • Quote
    • Experts

    My understanding is that it IS a HIPAA violation because enough information was posted that the lady could possibly be identified by someone who knows her. In any case, your friend could certainly be dismissed for this. Most health-care facilities now have strict policies about posting ANYTHING that happens in the workplace, because they are responsible for the conduct of their employees and can face severe penalties for any confidential information that goes public.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.