Is this a HIPAA violation???? Please Help!!!

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Hi this is my first time posting on here I need advice! I am a Medical Assistant in a Clinic. I am planning on going to nursing school next year! But anyways today at work I think I might have witnessed a HIPAA violation and I am worried I will get in trouble for not doing anything but there was no manager on duty today since it was Saturday. So today I arrive at work and a coworker of mine decided she was going to bring her 13 year old niece to work to "help". I thought she meant clean or something but the girl was in scrubs and she took her into the patients room with her I was very uncomfortable about that considering she is not a student or an employee and she is just a child! Also my provider did not say anything to the other employee which also upset me! So I do not know what to do? Please give me some advice I do not want to get in trouble and Ijust don't know what to do!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Ok so what you witnessed was a huge no-no but it is in no way your fault. Relax. And yes I would be telling the manager about this.

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Thank you. I will definitely be speaking with my boss about this Monday morning

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Whether or not it is a HIPAA violation depends on whether protected health information was released to this teenager. It's possible the child was in the rooms performing tasks but not provided any health information. However, I'm sure this is a violation of facility policy. From a liability standpoint, the facility would be at a huge risk if something were to happen to these patients, or this child, while at the facility.

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Well when she was taking back into the patients room she heard the patients Chief complaint reported to the MA who was her aunt. To me it seemed like she was treating her as if she had student privleges and I'm not sure how she introduced her to patients. I personally feel that the employee who allowed this to happen had no respect for patients or the clinic and I think she isn't taking her profession seriously. I would think it is grounds for termanation and I'll be very surprised if that is not the outcome.

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