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Discussion

hippa violation???

I work in a small rural clinic where it seems like everyone knows everyone, so today I see the receptionist's grandson I ordered some xrays on him later on when I went to pull the report off the fax machine, she commented oh i have already seen my grandsons report.:mad: First off I am not sure if she is even authorized to know his medical info, second i am not sure if she related the info to the mom, finally I am not comfortable with family members seeing test results before I have a chance to review them. i need to handle this with tact should i address this person directly let management handle it, she is a really good receptionest, keeps the office running smoothly should i just overlook this indiscretion and hope it does not happen again or say something

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    I would mention it to her just in case she dosen't know how serious an offence this is in the post HIPPA world, then let it go. She isn't pulling up her ex-husbands girlfriends lab work, she just happened to see her grandsons x-ray report. Unless you see a pattern of HIPPA violation or deliberate missuse of patient records I think this is a case of MYOB.

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    • Author

    thanks i think the best thing to do is just pull her aside for a cup of coffee and chit chat for a bit then mention it to her that it is best interest of pt/provider to give information, let her know i knew she was concerned but let me handle it next time

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    • Experts

    I work with chronic pts and many are related so I can relate. Although HIPAA is a big deal and should be, sometimes info gets obtained by accident that while it might be an actual violation, results in no harm.

    This report came off the fax machine - I would imagine other reports come off the fax machine too and it might be the receptionist's job to pull the reports and funnel them to the appropriate provider.

    I would just casually mention it and then let it drop.

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    If you think the person who takes the faxes off the machine and distributes them will never peek you are dreaing (human nature). However, at least if you have educated her about the confidentiality issue (as if she doesn't know - ha ha!) then you will have done your part.

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    Let it go. I wouldn't even casually mention it unless it happens again or she actively seeks out a chart to look at and didn't just happen across it.

    Trust me. I've seen this situation play out before.

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    • Author

    thanks everyone, i did not say anything about it just going to let it go, the more I thought about it I think i was just being territorial about my patient eh :)

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    thanks everyone, i did not say anything about it just going to let it go, the more I thought about it I think i was just being territorial about my patient eh :)

    Eh, I would say something. In this case it was X-rays, but what if it was something more sensitive like an unplanned pregnancy, cancer dx, HIV, things that cause trouble if they get leaked beyond the bounds of HIPAA. Would she still think it was ok to take a look and talk about it?

    At the very least she should know that when patients come in they have an expectation of privacy, even her own family members.

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    • Author
    Eh, I would say something. In this case it was X-rays, but what if it was something more sensitive like an unplanned pregnancy, cancer dx, HIV, things that cause trouble if they get leaked beyond the bounds of HIPAA. Would she still think it was ok to take a look and talk about it?

    At the very least she should know that when patients come in they have an expectation of privacy, even her own family members.

    i did say something, and her response was ' I did not think i did any thing wrong" i explained Hippa( even though she had been to the course) to her and that if something could ever happen such as a family feud and in this part hill billy fudes happen could back on her me and the corporation, we have have fax cover sheets whenthe fax's come in with my name on it so there is no reason for her to look at the results just give me the fax what if I had ordered a sensitive lab tast std, preg test and she saw it before i did ouch

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