Pierrette

I work in ER. We have several male nurses and techs. The males bring a different face to nursing. I, for one, am glad we have males in the business.

It is because 911 emergency centers are not covered entities, as defined under HIPAA (below). http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/coveredentities/index.html A Covered Entity is one of the following: A Health Care Provider This includes providers such as: Doctors Clinics Psychologists Dentists Chiropractors Nursing Homes Pharmacies A Health Plan This includes: Health insurance companies HMOs Company health plans Government programs that pay for health care, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the military and veterans health care programs A Health Care Clearinghouse This includes entities that process nonstandard health information they receive from another entity into a standard (i.e., standard electronic format or data content), or vice versa. ...but only if they transmit any information in an electronic form in connection with a transaction for which HHS has adopted a standard.

Orca, how silly! Anyone can play the race card for any reason at any time. :)

Julie, the nurse, forgot Nursing 101: 1) Right Patient 2) Right Route 3) Right Dose 4) Right Time 5) Right Medication.

My goodness. I don't think I can stand another "everybody is better than the USA" post. You win, Viking. I'm outta here.

Or, as it appears, the government? https://allnurses.com/social-health-care/largest-denier-health-429993.html#post3906423

Today the Department of Health and Human Services released new regulations concerning privacy breaches. This, of course, could open health care workers to civil lawsuits in serious breaches. Previously, a covered entity was not required to air its dirty laundry. These new regulations were required as part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the stimulus package. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/coveredentities/breachnotificationifr.html

HIPAA does not apply to family members.

Didn't I see you in the circus last week?:wink2:

You can answer your own question. Was the minimum information about the patient communicated to the HR and Administrator, in order for them to do their jobs? Couldn't this have just been communicated as "Patient X"? Yes, this was a violation, but the penalty seems harsh.

Since you're asking opinions... I think it is rarely a good idea to go into debt, but if you must, make it the debt that will be the least. As for leaving your present job, what will happen to you and your husband if you lose your job? With nursing, there's always another job available. Good luck to you!

you are close to reading it correctly. if the nurse does not transmit protected health information electronically, then she is not covered by hipaa privacy regulations. the original question was concerning hipaa. hipaa does not forbid a directly-paid nurse, not using electronic transmission of protected health information, from blabbing. but likely state and local laws do. folks tend to think of hipaa as the end-all of privacy regulations. in fact, hipaa just sets a minimum standard that is not unreasonable at all, in that it more or less says, "you got to do at least this much (concerning privacy)". state and local laws are likely more stringent than is hipaa.

There are specific regulations that determine who is covered by HIPAA. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaageninfo/downloads/coveredentitycharts.pdf

If this nurse was working for, and getting paid directly from, Michael Jackson, then there is no HIPAA violation. But, I agree, she shows a distinct lack of class and lack of respect for her deceased patient.

I would phrase the above differently: Is it wrong for people to die because they don't have money?