Page MD off work?

[Lapreea]

Is it a HIPPA violation to page a MD for the next shift while clocked out, assuming you do not disclose patient information but name?

[PeakRN]

I feel like there is more to the story than you are letting on. Why are you paging a doc but are okay waiting for a while? Why are you paging a provider who isn't actually on call? How did you even get their number, why aren't you using a formal on call service?

We sometimes accidentally page out the wrong doc because somewhere between our call center and their on call service their call list didn't get updated, or a sub-specialty is being covered by a different service (for example paging nephrology instead of transplant surgery). I don't think that this is a HIPAA violation as the information is being routed through a secure service to a credentialed provider who we/the call center/the on call service legitimately had a patient care interest, but that is probably up for debate.

[cleback]

If you were involved in their care, no. I feel like the bigger issue would be working off the clock... labor laws and all that. Why not just have the next nurse page?

[LifelongNursing, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Are you speaking in regards like this example: You and the nurse you are reporting to found an issue, and should technically call the physician about it but the other RN wants to get report from other nurses first? Or, you offer to page the MD since the problem was found at shift change? Otherwise, no would technically be no reason to page the provider for the "next shift" while you are clocked out. But, to answer your question, it should not be a HiPAA violation only if it is/was your patient and it is/was your issue.

[Lapreea]

it was like the first example but the nurse was lazy, so I knew I had to call for her to even report the incident

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

@PeakRN; we don't use a call service at all. All of us have our doc's cell phone numbers and/or home phone numbers. We call or text them directly. Never been a problem for us.

[Cowboyardee]

Assuming both you and the physician are involved in the patient's care and that you're paging the doctor about issues in the ongoing management of the patient (rather than, say, gossiping about the patient's social life, or something), there's no HIPPA violation. Even if you discuss the patient in detail.

As mentioned above, you are technically working off-clock which is a violation of labor laws, and your employer may not appreciate being exposed to that liability. Though, I must admit I've seen some employers who don't seem to care too much about that kind pf thing.

Also, given many unit cultures, you may be stepping on a few toes among either the nursing staff you're circumventing or the doctors you're calling. Guess it depends on the situation.

Either way, HIPPA isn't your problem.