Is this a HIPAA violation?

What Members Are Saying (AI-Generated Summary)

Members are discussing whether searching a name in the Epic system without accessing the chart violates HIPAA, with some emphasizing that even just accessing a name can constitute a disclosure. There is also mention of facility policies prohibiting employees from looking up their own records and the importance of following privacy rules to protect patient information. Additionally, there is a humorous take on how HIPAA regulations can sometimes be misinterpreted or overly strict within healthcare settings.

My hospital uses Epic (I'm fairly new to it). I have searched my name before and it flagged me. When I explained I was simply searching my name (out of boredom, and to see if I was even in Epic's system) and not actively in the chart, the problem was pretty much let go. So my question is, does it violate HIPAA to search a name if you're not double clicking into the chart and accessing it? I've known nurses to do that just to see if (for example) one of the patients we transferred was now deceased. Still, without actually accessing the chart. 

Specializes in Community health.
11 hours ago, JKL33 said:

LOL. We probably couldn't have water at the nurse's station because of HIPAA. Wait, that was Jake-o. Or, um, OSHA. Maybe the fire marshall.

Who knows. It was somebody though. Somebody said it.

 

Or....not.

Jake-O ??

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 4/1/2021 at 6:51 PM, JKL33 said:

LOL. We probably couldn't have water at the nurse's station because of HIPAA. Wait, that was Jake-o. Or, um, OSHA. Maybe the fire marshall.

Who knows. It was somebody though. Somebody said it.

 

Or....not.

Well, now there's COVID.  You could accidentally drink someone else's water at the nurses' station, and well, there you go.

On 9/2/2021 at 9:18 PM, LeChien said:

I remember being taught in nursing school that it is most definitely against HIPAA to look up your own name.

Well, that's just silly.

Who's privacy would you be violating?

+ Join the Discussion