hotdish22

Yes, but more specifically, I saw them there and accessed the record after they left. We have mutual friends but I'm not sure how the first investigation started. They probably asked for a record check which was dumb on my part since I know them and all they have to do is suspect that i might have at one point looked into their chart. We do have mutual friends but at this point I've only talked to my friends about the investigation and my punishment from that.

Yes, we do use EMR. My worry is that the patient has claimed that I have discussed the information that I viewed with my friends and family members. It is now being investigated based on the patients claims that I not only went into the record but that I am now discussing what I saw with my friends and family.

I violated HIPAA by accessing a patient record that was not part of my job duties. I thankfully was allowed to keep my job since it was the first time. Since then, the patient whose record that I have accessed has made new complaints that I have discussed with others that I have seen them in the office for appointments, actively seek their appointment times out and that I have discussed with others the information that was accessed by me. Neither of these are true but I am having a hard time proving myself since I did access the file initially. I know the patient and they, to my knowledge, are assuming that it was me that accessed their record since they saw me working that evening. My employer did not disclose my name as part of the investigation according to them. Can I get in trouble based on a patients word that I am doing this?