This seems like Hipaa violation

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · May 31, 2015

I would think that the only information you could receive is the name of patient, that they were admitted, and where. Otherwise, unless the MD is going to assume care for the patient at said hospital, what would be the need to know? If the hospital is calling as part of their policy to inform primary MD, at that time you could ask that a release is signed by the patient and the hospital records be sent to the office.

Otherwise, if the MD is assuming care of said patient, it would be up to them to follow up on the specifics of same, I would think,

shabish, CNA · May 31, 2015

right I agree...however a hospital gave out the reason for admission & that doesn't seem right at all.

enuf_already · May 31, 2015

right I agree...however a hospital gave out the reason for admission & that doesn't seem right at all.

If the hospital uses hospitalists only, as an admitted patient, I'd want to know my primary care MD knew I'd been hospitalized for a condition, especially if it was something they'd been treating. I believe the only HIPAA violation would be if they disclosed treatment for mental health or substance abuse.

It sounds like the hospital calls your office and someone at your office initiates the admitting diagnosis question. If they don't get the answer, they call back to ask.

If there is concern about a violation, the answer is easy. Don't ask the hospital for the admitting diagnosis.

Altra, BSN, RN · May 31, 2015

I'm not seeing the issue with this - if this is the patient's PCP, they are still part of the care team, if they are not currently the physician to whom they are admitted.

No HIPAA issue at all, IMHO.

ixchel · May 31, 2015

I'm not seeing the issue with this - if this is the patient's PCP, they are still part of the care team, if they are not currently the physician to whom they are admitted.
No HIPAA issue at all, IMHO.

Agreed. Providers are allowed access to medical information as it relates to their ability to directly care for the patient. A PCP needs to know their patient is in the hospital. Furthermore, depending on the severity of the diagnosis, the PCP may want to be consulted at the very least. If they have privileges, they may choose to assume care of the patient. Now, if you as staff received the message and then went peeking through the patient's records, that would be a violation.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 31, 2015

I'm not seeing the issue with this - if this is the patient's PCP, they are still part of the care team, if they are not currently the physician to whom they are admitted.
No HIPAA issue at all, IMHO.

Agree. The PCP is going to have to follow the patient after discharge. It's not like they're calling the patient's barber and telling him why he's admitted. I am a visiting nurse and the hospital always calls me to tell me when my patients have been admitted. I always ask why. Knowing why they're admitted will help me anticipate how long they're going to be in for and how this admission may affect their needs when they are ready for discharge. For example, if a patient is admitted for chemotherapy and they will come out needing daily visits for GCSF injections and lab draws until stem cell pheresis, I need to know this ASAP so the nursing can be arranged. The community providers need to be kept up to date on what's going on with the patient.

shabish, CNA · May 31, 2015

Ok I see. I thought because we, the service called back the hospital to get info about a pt (they have no idea who we really are) and they give it to us, I thought THAT was a violation.

MunoRN, RN · May 31, 2015

Definitely not a HIPAA violation, the PCP is expected to be looped in to inpatient information. Making sure the PCP has access to this information isn't just allowed, it's essentially required.

MunoRN, RN · May 31, 2015

Ok I see. I thought because we, the service called back the hospital to get info about a pt (they have no idea who we really are) and they give it to us, I thought THAT was a violation.

Who are you getting that information for?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 31, 2015

Ok I see. I thought because we, the service called back the hospital to get info about a pt (they have no idea who we really are) and they give it to us, I thought THAT was a violation.

How did you identify yourself when you called? If you said "I'm calling from Dr. So and So's office", how would they know that you're an answering service?

shabish, CNA · Jun 1, 2015

How did you identify yourself when you called? If you said "I'm calling from Dr. So and So's office", how would they know that you're an answering service?

Who are you getting that information for?

The info is for the dr that we take msgs for. Its info a dr calling in the admission to us should have given us initially but the op at our answering svc did not ask for. If we call back the dr & for some reason he left the hosp already we will call the hosp and speak with switchboard who will have info about pt. We'll say Hi, I'm Kim from dr smith's answering person. I understand pt john doe was admitted to 7 dazian but what was he admitted for. The hosp staff will give us that info & I thought them giving us that info was the violation.