Many studies that have shown that bedside report is beneficial to patients; mainly because patients feel involved in their plan of care and can make corrections if needed. However, I have been experiencing the downside to that. I am all for bedside reporting, but I think it should be done only in private rooms. I say this because, recently, after giving a report on a patient who had double pneumonia(PNA), the roommate overheard the diagnosis and immediately requested to change room because of her admitting condition of asthma. This time of year, if you live up north can be brutal on the respiratory system, and on that occasion, we were full. The patient then called her family and told them about the roommates PNA diagnosis, and so they came in and was noticeably irritated and loud. That resulted in other patients hearing about the roommate's condition.
Based on situations like that, giving bedside report in double occupancy rooms are no different than discussing a patient's condition in the elevator or the cafeteria. Would that not be considered a HIPPA violation? What are your thoughts?