Is audiotaping shift report a hipaa violation

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Is audiotaping shift report a hipaa violation? I don't think it is, especially if you erase it after it's been listened to, all the same the managers at the facility where I work have decided it's risky - so no more taped reports. Does anybody have any research on this? Any thoughts? Thanks. :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

I don't think it would be a violation of hippa because it is another form of an electronic record--like dr's dictating pt info, computer charting, and faxing info. It just has to be protected like you protect any other pt info- not listening to it when others can listen in, erasing, or destroying the tape. But I don't know this for certain. We also tape report.

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Specializes in Orthosurgery, Rehab, Homecare.

HIPPA is only violated if person(s) who do not need/ are not entitled to health information reguarding a patient are allowed access. (ie putting a diagnois on a room door for all to see, or telling any old Joe who calls the patients health history.) Taping report is giving info to persons who need it to care for the patients. If the tape is in a secure location there should not be a problem. In that case it's no different than writing info in the chart. (Now, listening to the tape at full volume with the door open is another issue) Tell them to read the law- it's far less restrictive that most interpret it to be.

~Jen

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