Is bedside report a HIPAA violation with 2-4 patients sharing a room?

[Paulieg69]

I work on a med-surge ward where rooms hold 1-4 patients. There is a recent push for bedside report, but resistant nurses claim that it is a HIPAA violation if bedside report is given when roomates are present. My argument was how 2 patient identifiers are accomplished since these meet the same criteria as protected data. The struggle continues. Can anyone out there help?

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I work on a med-surge ward where rooms hold 1-4 patients. There is a recent push for bedside report, but resistant nurses claim that it is a HIPAA violation if bedside report is given when roomates are present. My argument was how 2 patient identifiers are accomplished since these meet the same criteria as protected data. The struggle continues. Can anyone out there help?

I would agree there's a HIPAA issue, regardless of you not stating a name, you're talking about that patient in front of other patients. Incidental or not, the only safeguard of patient information is to not discuss information that could be heard. Period. Or not have rooming of patients. Or discuss patients at a nurse's station, far away from ears.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

"Bedside" report doesn't mean you are literally at the bedside (maybe in some institutions it is). Use your nursing judgement! Outside the room, away from big ears, will be appropriate in some situations. In others giving report literally at the bedside may be appropriate. Some patients will want to be more involved in their care, and giving report bedside may be part of the healing process for the patient. On the other hand, some patients may not understand the information and for them, it would not be appropriate.

for in the ER, bedside report is quite literal, but we are just in the room to say hi, I'm so and so nurse, taking over for so and so nurse. You're being admitted, or waiting for a CT report, I'll be back in to check on you once I settle my patients. It's never detailed, never asking the patients for anything, as I'm just popping in to see them and will be back for further info. More detailed information (and my questions) are always done at the nurse's station. We don't have the time to do that bedside. We need to get in, get out.