HIPPA Question/Need Help

[bobnurse]

Hi,

If a patient has an infection, say C-Diff.....Can you put a sign outside the door that says Contact Isolation? Ive worked in hospitals where they say you cant do that, instead they put a sign that says to see the nurse before entering.......And ive seen where hospitals will put contact or droplet isolation...

So, what are you doing out there?

Is it a HIPPA violation? IF you say yet it is, where can i find this in writing?

Thanks for all your help.

Bobby

[pricklypear]

OH BOY!! Pet peeve of mine! We place precaution signs on the door, in plain view. I do not have a problem with this - I think it's safer for everybody. I don't think it's a violation since it does not give specific information. Too many people walk right by the 'see the nurse before entering' sign. Just like they walk by the BIG visiting hours sign at the front door! Anyway, some people I work with are in the habit of also noting on the sign WHAT and WHERE the infectious agent is. IE: MRSA/urine THAT is a violation. But try to convince people at work of that. Nobody needs to know WHAT it is, just what precautions need to be taken. I've said to them " If you had a patient with AIDS, would you put up a sign stating that they had it???" Of course not, what's the difference for any other infectious disease.

[sweet4dalejr]

Yes, you can put a Contact Isolation sign on the door. It is not like you are saying Mrs.Smith has C-diff put gloves & gown on. If a pt is on any type of isolation it needs to be in plain view for anyone going into the room, not only that there needs to be a isolation cart outside of the room. So to ansewer your question NO this does not violate Hippa.

Hi,

If a patient has an infection, say C-Diff.....Can you put a sign outside the door that says Contact Isolation? Ive worked in hospitals where they say you cant do that, instead they put a sign that says to see the nurse before entering.......And ive seen where hospitals will put contact or droplet isolation...

So, what are you doing out there?

Is it a HIPPA violation? IF you say yet it is, where can i find this in writing?

Thanks for all your help.

Bobby

[nursepotter05, RN]

We put isolation signs on the door. I would not think this is a HIPPA violation because specifics of the condition are not revealed.

[Bird2]

We put isolation signs on the door. I would not think this is a HIPPA violation because specifics of the condition are not revealed.

I asked our HIPPA Compliance Officer and they stated that the Isolation sign is fine becaues it does not state the specific problem.

[bobnurse]

Thank You for your replies.