Is this a HIPAA violation

[avalynn]

I have a friend that is pretty sure a Hippa violation happened to her. She was getting ready to go to college last year and two days before she was going she got a shot of Rocephin IM for a sinus infection. She went into anaphlactic shock and almost died. She was in the hospital in her home town for 4 days. She had a very hard time and was diagnosed with PTSD. In May she was admitted to the hospital in the town where her college is for depression narcotic addiction. She was in there a week and with counseling has done awesome. That month she moved into an apartment where she met a girl that lived upstairs. They were friends until my friend moved out of that apartment and into the soriety house. This girl that lived upstairs didn't like my friend anymore since she joined the soriety. For the next six months this girl was real mean to my friend when ever she saw her. This girl worked at the same hospital my friend was hospitilzed for the depression. This girl was always calling my friend and text messaging her that she was going to tell everyone why she was in the hospital. My friend was scared because she didn't want anyone to know. About a month ago this girl was at the same club as my friend and followed her into the bathroom. She grabbed my friend around the neck and said "I'm going to tell everyone why you were in the hospital b---and everyone will know you are psycho and a drug addict. You can't get me in trouble and will have no proof i've told anyone." My friend went to the police station and reported the assault. They said this girl just committed a big Hippa violation and wanted her to talk to the people at the hospital. She is scared and doesn't know what to do. She said when she was friends with this girl that she would always tell her why patients were admitted there and would have charts of different patients at her apartment. At the time she didn't know why this girl would have them since she isn't a nursing student. Anyway, my friend doesn't know what to do. Is this a Hippa violation?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Closing thread as OP not been back to update. Yes story posted is a violation.

Thanks to Daytonite for posting links re HIPAA law and how to file a complaint.