does the law protect your patient's confidentiality from other staff rns in the emergency department?
i was under the impression that the only staff that are privy to my patient's information (i.e. chief complaint, pmh, etc.) are me, clinical coordinator, the attending md, unit secretary, registration clerk, and those performing ancillary services (radiology and ecg).
i simply have a peeve when i find other rns flipping through my patient's chart asking, "hey, what's going on with this patient?"
thanks in advance,
carotid
supplying oxygen-rich blood to millions of brains globally
My BIGGEST BEEFis that nurses are not given the same amount of courteousy as our pts. I had some tests run and there were messages on my answering machine by the time I arrived home expressing concern over the test results. I had not even been informed of the results myself. It seems HIPPA only concerns pts and not staff.
If you had tests run that puts you in a patient category, and someone in trouble.
Does HIPAA dictate how test results are delivered?
I've been told at my place of work, that HIPPA dictates what we information we can call to the guardians of our people and leave on the answering machine.
If we get the answering machine or another person besides the guardian or if it's someone who the guardian has not designated as another "contact", we cannot leave any information except who we are, our place of work, the phone number and a message for the guardian to please contact us.
I think somebody was out of line in hollyster's incident of them leaving a message of concern over her results.
An incident like that could be potentially embarrassing or harmful to the one who had the tests done.
There's also an issue of teaching. If it's something unusual and the nurse wants to know how another nurse is approaching a difficult issue, I think it's a very valid reason to look.
I agree though, it is a violation of HIPAA if they do not keep confidentiality when a staff member is a patient.
If you had tests run that puts you in a patient category, and someone in trouble.
That was what I brought up with one of the risk managers. The excuse was that since my injury happened at work they had a right to know the results of my MRI. I can understanding the risk manager being informed but not the whole staff. I was furious when I found out that one of the DR.s said that I would never be able to work again. I will no longer see any DR affiliated with the hospital.
I've been told at my place of work, that HIPPA dictates what we information we can call to the guardians of our people and leave on the answering machine.
If we get the answering machine or another person besides the guardian or if it's someone who the guardian has not designated as another "contact", we cannot leave any information except who we are, our place of work, the phone number and a message for the guardian to please contact us.
I think somebody was out of line in hollyster's incident of them leaving a message of concern over her results.
An incident like that could be potentially embarrassing or harmful to the one who had the tests done.
When I was gettting my case management certificate I had to take a ten hour class on HIPPA. Everything they have done with concern to my case has completely voided HIPPA regulations. When I contacted the labor board I was told that it was a gray area. I guess being an employee removes your basic rights at least there it did.
On the phone message they left the complete information on the injury. My answering machine is one of the computer voice machines they could have called anyone. My daughter listened to the message before I arrived home and was in a full panic, she had not heard about the accident yet.
When I was gettting my case management certificate I had to take a ten hour class on HIPPA. Everything they have done with concern to my case has completely voided HIPPA regulations. When I contacted the labor board I was told that it was a gray area. I guess being an employee removes your basic rights at least there it did.
On the phone message they left the complete information on the injury. My answering machine is one of the computer voice machines they could have called anyone. My daughter listened to the message before I arrived home and was in a full panic, she had not heard about the accident yet.
At my hospital if you are an employee and you come in as a patient, you have an option of being put in under a set of numbers instead of your name, so it cuts back on who can just go in and pull up your results...I think they may use your ssn instead of your name...I think its ridiculous that you were told it was a gray area, why have laws then if it can't protect the very people that have to abide by it...double standard, and I'm sure there are ways to prove your rights were violated...
i simply have a peeve when i find other rns flipping through my patient's chart asking, "hey, what's going on with this patient?"
i'm just curious, are you the only staff member that is on at any given time? let's face it. as much as we all hate to admit it, we are all human. if you can truley say that you have never asked a fellow staff member what is going on with thier pt, then i appologize and applaud you. once more, even worse, we all like to feel in control and when people "flip thru your charts" with out your permission, we loose that sence of control. lighten up, especially if you are busy and one of those chart flipping rn's now knows your patient enough to lend you a helping hand!
i simply have a peeve when i find other rns flipping through my patient's chart asking, "hey, what's going on with this patient?"
i'm just curious, are you the only staff member that is on at any given time? let's face it. as much as we all hate to admit it, we are all human. if you can truley say that you have never asked a fellow staff member what is going on with thier pt, then i appologize and applaud you. once more, even worse, we all like to feel in control and when people "flip thru your charts" with out your permission, we loose that sence of control. lighten up, especially if you are busy and one of those chart flipping rn's now knows your patient enough to lend you a helping hand!
:)
i agree with sarah. we all have to work together in this ever busy busy world. patients are coming in sicker and sicker. there is no "i" in team anyway. besides, we are curious by nature, just be smart with it. :melody:
:melody:
LPN1974, LPN
879 Posts
If you had tests run that puts you in a patient category, and someone in trouble.