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Discussion

HIPAA Violation?

You all know the patient's family member that starts to rail against you and declare they are some nurse, from some hospital, from some random department and demands you do things the way they want it done.

I've looked all over and never found a solid answer. I'm curious though, much like if someone identifies themselves as a police office, they have to show identification. If a family member identifies themselves as a nurse, is it in your right to look them up on BON or is that a HIPAA violation? Just curious is all.

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    • Featured Replies

    • Experts

    Information on BON websites is public access and has nothing to do with HIPAA.

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    • Author
    Information on BON websites is public access and has nothing to do with HIPAA.

    You are correct, but seeing as it is a patient's family member (in relation to the patient), I was not exactly sure.

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    It's not a HIPAA violation. Not entirely sure why you would need to verify their license though.

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    • Experts
    You are correct, but seeing as it is a patient's family member (in relation to the patient), I was not exactly sure.

    It doesn't matter who it is. Even if your patient said they are a nurse you are free to look them up as well. It's not protected information.

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    • Author

    Gosh golly...why not?

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    • Experts

    Because it isn't protected information. It's public access.

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    Gosh golly...why not?

    State issued licenses are public record. Therefore not protected information .

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    It does not matter if the family member is a nurse. HIPAA rules are.. you only divulge information .. if it's necessary for patient care or payment.

    Save your effort and CY your A. Refer these questions to the provider.

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    Unless you are planning on hiring them, I do not understand why you would feel the need to look them up on the BON website.

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    • Guides
    Unless you are planning on hiring them, I do not understand why you would feel the need to look them up on the BON website.

    Ehhh, the curiosity gets the best of some people. Honestly, if I had a family

    member being a total jerkface and saying "I'm a nurse, dammit!", I'd probably

    look them up too.

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    It's not a HIPAA violation. Not entirely sure why you would need to verify their license though.

    Exactly. How does the family members being or not being a nurse have any effect on the care that you provide to the patient?

    Also, the family member could have their license under his/her maiden name, hyphenated last name, adopted last name, pre-adoption last name, etc. I have had patients tell me "I am a nurse," while they were wearing their CNA name badges. Who care if they are really a nurse or not?

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    1- Why bother?

    2- Who cares? In the words, even if it was a violation, and it's not, so what? Who would know?

    I might do it as well, just out of curiosity.

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