is it HIPAA violation

Published

i worked at adult day care where we do catering so when we serve food...is it okay we put the patient first name on the food tray that has diabetes? instead of sticker so its easier for us to know which tray to give it to? because we have diabetic, regular and low salt etch diet...so is it a hipaa violation if we put the first name of pt instead of putting stickers?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Moved to HIPAA forum to elicit further response.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I dont think it sounds like HIPAA violation; but you can always check with your DON.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Since it is only one identifier I would think that it doesn't violate HIPAA. My concern is......what if you have 2 John's or 3 Barbara's and they each have a special diet. One renal, one cardiac, one diabetic, one fluid restricted, one clear liq. etc. How would you guarantee that the fluid restricted John didn't get the other John's push fluid diabetic diet and the mech soft Cardiac diet goes to the high fiber patient and visa versa.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

if its a diff diet than diabetic we put a diff letter on the other side. like for renal we put R with the pt name or if we have the same name we put the last name first letter... how do you guys label your patient food or food tray? please give us a good idea...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

Do you really have that many different types of diets that a dietary dept needs to prep in Adult Day Care?? In most of the LTC places I've been, we basically have NAS (no extra salt packs) and D (diabetic- no sugar packs, special ice cream and desserts) and fluid restricted for our dialysis pts. Everybody else's tray would be normal regular diet. As for names, why not, John S or Mary P??? How many John S s that are NAS would be in your population? Less is best when it comes to HIPAA---just a partial name identifer and a coded diet.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Tempest in teapot. Since the residents presumably know each other's names already, and everyone is eating in the dining hall and can presumably see what meals are being served to others, it is silly to worry about labeling the meal tickets.

If you're really concerned about trying to conceal this information, which doesn't really rise to the standard of private health information in my opinion (and I am not a lawyer nor do I play one on TV), use different color tickets for different kinds of diets-- that may also serve as a prompt/reminder for the staff preparing the trays. But anyone with any smarts will be able to see that blue is for DM, green is reduced calorie, grey is for ground/pureed, pink is for renal.... Stop worrying about it and do what will make it safest for the patients-- the method that makes it least likely that they will be served the wrong diets.

Note: for full impact of this message, it should display in Comic Sans, green. Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Folks...I don't even understand what the debate is.

That is like wondering, "Oh, well, we had a medication sent up from pharmacy, is it a HIPAA violation to put their name on it?"

No, it is not a HIPAA violation to put their name on it, birthday on it, room number and any other information that is NECESSARY to ensure it goes to the correct patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion