HIPPA violation.....question

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I can't get into any detail,but MAJOR HIPPA violation will have to dealt with at my facility.I didn't do it ,but we were the ones that found out about the violation and reported it.We were afraid if we didn't we would get in trouble for not at least passing it along to upper mgt.It was quietly passed along in formal writing to the administrator because KNEW this wasn't going to go away at all.We did it for cya reasons........not to be vengeful.Sort of like "you found it ,you deal with it"The HIPPA security officer stated that if we had not reported it,we could have gotten in just as much trouble! Is this true?What happens now?I am asking what is the usual process that happens now?:eek:

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

That's just the trouble with this nebulous law... no one really knows "What happens now?" You're dealing with the federal government, and any federal agency can be ruthless, arbitrary, and tyrannical. You did the right thing in reporting it, and you should be in the clear. The others are caught in a web and may pay dearly, if the "HIPPA police" so choose. I have heard that fines for individual violators alone can be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Specializes in Only the O.R. and proud of it!.

Yes- Part of the HIPPA law is the requirement to pass along knowledge of a violation.

I am NOT a HIPPA officer, I only know a bit, but I've been told that the law is several thousand (hundred??) pages...

Dave

Specializes in Critical Care, Telemetry.

Health Information Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA, not HIPPA.

Specializes in cardiac, diabetes, OB/GYN.

Now a days at our facility we are probably going to implement some policy *so I hear... that using either the first four or last four numbers of a patients medical record number buys the family member a password so that when they call in to inquire about the status of their person, we can give the allotted passworded people some info. Of course, that requires we check everyones number every time there is a call and doesn't stop some families from sharing their passwords. We nurses think this is a disaster waiting to happen. Don't you?

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
Health Information Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA not HIPPA.[/quote']

hippopotamus%20pictures.jpg

Not this? :)

When a patient is admitted, the nurse has to explain HIPPAA and the 4-digit PIN number to the pt. The number is given to them, and they give it out to whoever they want. If anybody calls asking for info, they must provide this number. It's not too much of a pain, but we have had some very angry family members. Also, some nurses don't follow the policy. I hear this a lot- "Well, I called last night, and the other nurse told me everything I wanted to know!"

I hate this password thing! Is it part of HIPPA or part of someones idea of a loop hole. I was pulled to another floor recently and had an out-of-state family member call and tell me he wanted to know how the pt was doing and also wanted to remove restraints on his 'loved one' and that his password was #@#$%. I was taught by two instructors during nursing school who were legal nurse consultants that it is strictly forbidden to say if a pt is in or out of the hospital...period...let alone 'take orders' over the phone. How I handled this situation and others like it is to take the persons name and phone # and give it to the patient for them to call. If the patient is not 'with it' then I leave the message with the manager. I refuse to give any info over the phone.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Sorry no passwords here (like any of us have the time for password games). I just do not give out info. If people have a problem, tell them to complain to complain to Washington that enacted this mess.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR INFO ON HIPAA, I FOUND THIS WEB SITE A FEW OF MY FRIENDS AT IU MED CENTER TOLD ME ABOUT. YOU CAN EITHER BUY THE BOOK OR BECOME HIPAA CERTIFIED. I AM OPTING FOR THE CERTIFICATION, AT LEAST THEN YOU KNOW YOUR SELF, WHAT YOU CAN AND CANT DO.THE ADDRESS IS WWW.YOURHIPAACERT.COM , TRY IT OUT ITS HELPED QUITE A FEW OF US AT WORK.:p :p :p

hippopotamus%20pictures.jpg

Not this? :)

only if you're from the south....

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
hippopotamus%20pictures.jpg

Not this? :)

Hold on! Is that supposed to be a female hippo (a hippa)? :)

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