Would you do it?

megananne7 · Jun 23, 2008

Unless the patient approved of the ex DIL of recieving this info, then this would be a HIPPA violation.

chenoaspirit, ASN, RN · Jun 23, 2008

Here, the patient comes up with a password. If someone calls and knows the password, we can give out info. Otherwise, only pt's condition is all the info they get.

TazziRN, RN · Jun 23, 2008

If the pt or family finds out and raises a stink, the supe will be the one with her patootie in the hot water tank, not you.

ProLogic · Jun 23, 2008

This has been a situation in the past with a family member. At first they told us the patient was not there. We had to get the mother so she can talk to the supervisor for the 'ok'.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 23, 2008

I think you did exactly the right thing. Even without HIPAA, there might be some very good reasons the ex-daughter-in-law should not be informed.

CHATSDALE · Jun 23, 2008

a. you were right i don't like giving info on phone and most facilities do have a password given per the hospital..usually a four number code

so many times a family member will call and say that they have lost the code..if patient can take calls or if there is another family member in room we will transfer it

b. i have seen ex-in-laws who were on better terms than the current trophy spouse but there is no way that you or your supervisor could have known that

always play it self...better an angry fly member or supervisor than trying to explain to bon why you gave out protected information

shelly304 · Jun 23, 2008

Today I had patient's ex daughter in law call wanting info on the patient. We only give condition over the phone because of HIPPA. She was not happy that I would not release info and called the nursing supervisor who told me that I had to give her the info. I got at least four calls from the nursing supervisor and three from the patient's ex daughter in law in the coure of 12 hrs while I am trying to provide quality care to 2 very confused post CABG patients. In the end the supervisor ended up giving the info herself because I would not. This is a very short version of the story, but I wanted some other nurses input on the situation.

Two years ago in the county next to mine their was a similiar situation. A women was hospitalized and a relative contacted the hosp. for various info about the stay. Date and time of discharge were given. The ex-brother-in-law shot and killed the woman upon leaving the hospital because she was scheduled to testify against him on case involving child abuse, his child.

Of course, in the end he went to prison, but the family of the woman sued the hospital and the RN that gave out the info. And rightly so.

The privacy act is very clear and I adhere to it without exception.Often, as in this case, there is even more on the line than just someones license.

whodatnurse · Jun 23, 2008

Today I had patient's ex daughter in law call wanting info on the patient. We only give condition over the phone because of HIPPA. She was not happy that I would not release info and called the nursing supervisor who told me that I had to give her the info. I got at least four calls from the nursing supervisor and three from the patient's ex daughter in law in the coure of 12 hrs while I am trying to provide quality care to 2 very confused post CABG patients. In the end the supervisor ended up giving the info herself because I would not. This is a very short version of the story, but I wanted some other nurses input on the situation.

Good for you for standing firm!

Doesn't sound as if human resources at your hospital does a very good job of communicating and/or maintaining ongoing awareness of hospital policy requiring across-the-board compliance with specific federal, state, and local laws. This is very serious stuff.

Anybody could call and say that they're a family member of so-and-so. For all your supervisor knows it's a reporter from the National Enquirer saying that it's your patient's daughter-in-law trying to dig up information on your patient for some reason. Or maybe it's a consulting firm evaluating how well your hospital's employees comply with HIPPA law that's having one of their employees call and try to get information out of you. You never know...

RN1982 · Jun 23, 2008

I don't give out info. I've had a patient's brother threaten to call his lawyer on me. I said go ahead and that I wasn't going to waste my time arguing with him any further and hung up. Good thing about that was is that he lived in Indiana. Come to find out that my patient was NOT close to that particular brother. I only give out info to the designated spokesperson and that's it. The supervisor should be reprimanded for the hippa violation.

Riseupandnurse · Jun 23, 2008

Why do we have to give out information to all these people at all? It chews up a large part of a shift at time, with no benefit to the patient. And just to go and check the chart to see if a telephone inquirer is listed on the HIPPA takes time. And once you do check, who's to say the person on the phone is who they even say they are? When my dad had surgery several years ago, our family was informed we should select one contact person to receive information and everyone else could call the contact person. That way, the hospital staff could take care of Dad instead of us, which is what we wanted when we thought about it. So my stepmother got all the information and took our calls. It worked out great for everyone and this is what should be done, IMHO.

RN1982 · Jun 23, 2008

Exactly what I was thinking. I would have told the DIL that I would not be taking anymore phone calls from her and then give my supervisor a good talking to.