so yea, a person walks up to the nurses' station and asks to see his friend, Mr. X.
as a nurse, i have been taught that you tell them something along the lines of: "I'm sorry, I can't disclose client information."
However, say the "friend" really needs to see them...who should i direct him to? can i simply go into the patients room and ask Mr. X if he knows this guy and is allowing him to see him?
Patients are asked on admission if they want to be a "privacy" pt. If so, their name and presence is not released. Otherwise you may acknowledge they are there; HIPAA means you can't give information about their health or personal information, diagnosis, addressess etc.
No, it is not up to you to check IDs. To repeat other posts, if you have any doubts go ask the patient. If they cannot be asked, then obviously they aren't in shape for casual visitors.
You are not liable for the actions of visitors! Hospitals are not jails, nor (usually) "safe havens". If your pt needs privacy protection, the chart and the computer should be marked; you are only responsible for protecting that type of privacy.
JBudd, MSN
3,836 Posts
Patients are asked on admission if they want to be a "privacy" pt. If so, their name and presence is not released. Otherwise you may acknowledge they are there; HIPAA means you can't give information about their health or personal information, diagnosis, addressess etc.
No, it is not up to you to check IDs. To repeat other posts, if you have any doubts go ask the patient. If they cannot be asked, then obviously they aren't in shape for casual visitors.
You are not liable for the actions of visitors! Hospitals are not jails, nor (usually) "safe havens". If your pt needs privacy protection, the chart and the computer should be marked; you are only responsible for protecting that type of privacy.