Wanting to reach out to coworker who is in the hospital, HIPAA violation?

[hp131071]

Someone I work with had an accident at work and was sent to the ER. I really want to reach out to them to ask if they are OK, but I was advised not to, because it would violate HIPAA. But would it actually be a violation if I'm just messaging them on facebook? Im not looking up any information on them or speaking with anyone else over it. We are facebook friends.

[chare]

No, reaching out to coworker in the hospital is not a HIPAA violation.

[JKL33]

hp131071 said:

 I really want to reach out to them to ask if they are OK, but I was advised not to, because it would violate HIPAA.

Where do people come up with this stuff?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

JKL33 said:

Where do people come up with this stuff?

A poor understanding of what HIPAA really is and employers conflating HIPAA with internal policies. 

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

If you are friends, reach out as a friend. Perfectly normal to reach out to a friend. You are not an agent of the hospital, just a friend. Friends can talk to each other