Is this a HIPAA violation?

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Is is a HIPAA violation to tell a patient you have a mutual friend or you know someone that they know. Like if you're just having small talk and you end up being from the same town and know a bunch of the same people, even family? 

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No, it isn't.

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What protected health information is being shared in the scenario you describe?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

No, sometimes working in a small community hospital you will inevitably care for someone who is in your sphere of friendship/family. Discussion of the connection with the patient is not a HIPAA violation.

Sharing protected health information about the patient to others would be a violation. 

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Specializes in Community health.

Instead of getting online to ask whether a bunch of random things are or are not HIPAA violations, I encourage nurses to familiarize themselves with what is actually contained in the law.  Here's a summary, there's also an FAQ.

https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/privacysummary.pdf

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