Home Visits and HIPAA considerations

[WifeMomNurseHuman]

If a nurse is working an on-call or afterhours shift and her spouse demands to accompany her to a home visit, is this a HIPAA violation? In theory, the spouse does not know who the patient is (name, sex, dx, etc), but is physically remaining in a vehicle, in the driveway, during nurse visits. While I am sure the reason why this occurs does not make it more or less of a violation, I am sure there will be replies re that detail; Said spouse does not want nurse making visits after dark alone, no matter where the patient lives (safe neighborhood or high crime area). Thanks in advance!

[Karahrn]

The answer to this would be of interest to me as well. I hope you get some good answers. 

[toomuchbaloney]

If there is no medical information regarding diagnosis or treatment plan shared with the driver it is not a violation.  Address is public information. 

[londonflo]

WifeMomNurseHuman said:

If a nurse is working an on-call or afterhours shift and her spouse demands to accompany her to a home visit, is this a HIPAA violation? 

I would agree  a spouse/boyfriend/friend  can go  with her. The spouse only knows that  the house  is one of  many one the block. . What HIPAA  rule was violated? Someone needed professional nursing assistance and it was provided. 

[nursel56]

Not sure if this would be related or not, but in private duty nursing many of the nurses are dropped off and picked up by a friend, relative or public transportation at all hours of the day and night. I don't think most of us were concerned about being observed entering the house where the patient lived.

Since these assignments are often long-term, I'd say it's pretty likely the nurse may have mentioned the person's name, rather than something generic like "the client".

Even when I think I understand HIPAA, new questions come up for discussion.

 

[toomuchbaloney]

nursel56 said:

Not sure if this would be related or not, but in private duty nursing many of the nurses are dropped off and picked up by a friend, relative or public transportation at all hours of the day and night. I don't think most of us were concerned about being observed entering the house where the patient lived.

Since these assignments are often long-term, I'd say it's pretty likely the nurse may have mentioned the person's name, rather than something generic like "the client".

Even when I think I understand HIPAA, new questions come up for discussion.

 

In Michigan there was a home health and Hospice agency that had company owned vehicles for the professorsional staff.  The cars were red and said NURSE CAR or similar on the side. Clearly there is no HIPAA  violation associated with a ride to work.