I'm so afraid that I violated Hipaa!

ktwlpn, LPN · Jan 18, 2015

I recently met a patient at our facility who came to us with a really hard injury. I had a long talk with the patient and he's been on my mind a lot. Recently, while with my family, I mentioned to them that I had met someone at our facility who had come in with this injury (I named the injury, in vague terms), but didn't share anything else, such as name, age, doctor, address, etc. I did mention that the patient was a man, and didn't even mention that I had seen and/or spoken to the patient.
But by simply sharing that this patient indeed came to our facility, and even saying in general terms the nature of the injury, I believe that I may have violated Hipaa!
I am filled with regret and heartsick over this slip, as I am almost neurotic about never saying anything to friends or family about patients.
Any insights on this?
And, if I did violate Hipaa, what should I do next?
Thank you so much.

Forget about it-you did NOT violate anything-you did not give ANY identifying information.In the future don't even identify the sex of the patient. You need to seek support from friends and family sometimes.That conversation can have a positive impact on your people-it may open a dialogue to some advance life care planning.

onedayitllbeme · Jan 18, 2015

What part of that feels like a violation to you? I guess you could change the gender but if we always change the gender it defeats the purpose. Review hipaa so you feel more comfortable speaking about work with close friends or family from time to time when you are in need of support. Understanding this is an important piece of nursing.

guest879529 · Jan 18, 2015

thanks so much for your words. I think I'm afraid that in disclosing the nature of the injury and the pt's gender, that that was too much. Not that my family is going to go and hunt down a male who had this particular injury of course, but still, I'm angry at myself for breaking confidentiality, even in vague terms...I sure appreciate your kindness to respond to my post.

Nonyvole, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2015

"So my drunk at work peed all over the floor again...but this time it happened while the doctor was trying to stitch up their head lac. It was really funny, watching the doc try to avoid getting hit. Remind me again why mouthwash has alcohol in it?" Doesn't violate HIPAA.

"So Mr. Doe, my favorite homeless drunk guy went and split his head open again because he couldn't afford his favorite bottom-shelf rotgut and had to buy a couple big bottles of Listerine from the Dollar Store. While Dr. House was suturing it, Nursing Student Klinger passed out from the smell and the sight. I wish that Mr. Doe would remember that Shelter X will accept you when you've been drinking, instead of trying to wedge himself behind the dumpster at the Super 8 by Shelter Y. He'd split his head open a lot less." Violates HIPAA.

See the difference? The first one...sure, it's a drunk. And mouthwash is a favorite drink with a lot of the drunks because it's cheap and easy to get. The second one? Anybody could walk out and find out where that patient likes to hang out. And his favorite drink, his second choice of alcohol, and the fact that a nursing student couldn't handle the situation.

So no, you didn't violate HIPAA. :)

onedayitllbeme · Jan 21, 2015

and please don't be angry at yourself! And, BTW, is that really the worst thing to happen to you during a day? If so, I need some advice :) The list of things I wish I could have done a little better at an end of a shift is immense, I feel kind of frustrated often that I gave a med a little late (being caught up with other patients), I didn't call a doctor right away about some out of range (but not critical) test result, I don't know there are a million things. I forgot to educate a patient on one thing (but educated them on 5 other important things) before they left. that's all from one shift :) I guess I just am doing my best day by day and trying to improve. If I couldn't talk in vague terms to my family about some of the things I would go insane. HIPAA is SO important, but you didn't violate it at all, and there is absolutely nothing to be angry at yourself about.

guest879529 · Jan 23, 2015

Thanks, all. By the way, is it ever ok to tell a patient that you have met other patients who have the same difficult condition or gone through something similar to what they are going through? (Without mentioning names, dates of admission, docs, ages, towns, etc.)

ktwlpn, LPN · Jan 23, 2015

Thanks, all. By the way, is it ever ok to tell a patient that you have met other patients who have the same difficult condition or gone through something similar to what they are going through? (Without mentioning names, dates of admission, docs, ages, towns, etc.)

That depends on a lot of factors.That can reassure a person that they are not traveling the road alone BUT it could also anger them.Letting patients family know you are familiar with a condition and it's treatment to gain their confidence is good.Telling someone they are going through something similar to many others kind of minimizes their feelings.Patients KNOW other folks have had X,Y or Z but when they are in a crisis is all about them and that's ok.So tread lightly

guest879529 · Jan 23, 2015

Thank you, such a good point. Best to keep it about the patient, to give them and their situation one's all. Thanks to each of you for responding to this!

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Feb 13, 2015

I recently met a patient at our facility who came to us with a really hard injury. I had a long talk with the patient and he's been on my mind a lot. Recently, while with my family, I mentioned to them that I had met someone at our facility who had come in with this injury (I named the injury, in vague terms), but didn't share anything else, such as name, age, doctor, address, etc. I did mention that the patient was a man, and didn't even mention that I had seen and/or spoken to the patient.
But by simply sharing that this patient indeed came to our facility, and even saying in general terms the nature of the injury, I believe that I may have violated Hipaa!
I am filled with regret and heartsick over this slip, as I am almost neurotic about never saying anything to friends or family about patients.
Any insights on this?
And, if I did violate Hipaa, what should I do next?
Thank you so much.

Uh, no you did not. You don't need to do anything. I agree, in the future, don't include the gender.

99% of my nursing instructors talk about scenarios that they encountered in practice. I have a large group of nursing friends and we also, talk about work, in vague terms.

That is not likely to get you into trouble. Posting stuff on Facebook will.

RschIVF40 · Feb 16, 2015

Sorry to get in on this conversation at the last minute. I would move forward from that situation and not get overly stressed about it, but rather utilize it as a learning situation and just NOT repeat doing this sort of thing. In the future, I would be very cognizant regarding not sharing information about patients with family members even if it is "general terms the nature of the injury" as well as the "gender" of any patient with family members or friends or even other patients.

Although we all have difficult, challenging or unusual situations that arise at work, it may be best to just discuss how you handled your day, or various situations (i.e. I was able to effectively resolve an extremely emotionally challenging situation today), as opposed to discussing any information regarding the patient. I agree with "onedayitllbeme" regarding reviewing HIPAA as we all need support.

Best Wishes

CamillusRN, BSN · Feb 23, 2015

Gender and nature of injury are not patient identifiers. HIPAA was not breached as long as you didn't provide age, DOB, Name, SSN, etc. Word of caution, though: if you practice in a small town where everybody knows everybody and Mrs. Smith's new cat makes headlines, it is best to say nothing at all.