Yet another HIPAA/confidentiality question

[guest1200295]

A staff member in our healthcare facility (who I'll call "B" for anonymity) had an extended family member as one of our patients. B saw that I was waiting to visit the patient as part of my work as a support staffer. B has been in the patient's room when I attempted a previous visit with the patient, and recently they and other family members saw me waiting to see the patient again. But the patient wasn't available, so I said I'd try again, and I was eventually able to see the patient before they were discharged. Later, B saw me and told me that their relative (this patient) had been discharged. I thanked B, told them that I knew this. BUT, I did not tell them that I had indeed visited with the patient, because I was unsure if telling them that might violate HIPAA. I mean, B knows what I do, and knew (since B was in the room when I attempted to visit) that their loved one was on my list of patients, but I was unsure if telling B that I was able to see their loved one before their discharge might break confidentiality, or HIPAA. Now, to be fair, B didn't ask me if I had been able to see their loved one (the patient) before discharge, and I feel a little deceptive NOT telling them that I did (because they were concerned that I was able to). But I think better to error on the side of safety. Does HIPAA/confidentiality keep me from telling B that I DID see their loved one before discharge, or would it be alright to let them know?

[TriciaJ, RN]

I really don't think this is a problem.  B knew you were there to see her family member.  You told her nothing she didn't already know.  It's a non-issue.

HIPAA exists to keep people from accessing info they don't need.  That didn't happen so you should rest easy.

[guest1200295]

TriciaJ said:

I really don't think this is a problem.  B knew you were there to see her family member.  You told her nothing she didn't already know.  It's a non-issue.

HIPAA exists to keep people from accessing info they don't need.  That didn't happen so you should rest easy.

Thanks, do you think it's alright if I tell "B" that I was able to see their relative (the patient) before they discharged?

[TriciaJ, RN]

Hopefulone said:

Thanks, do you think it's alright if I tell "B" that I was able to see their relative (the patient) before they discharged?

Frankly I wouldn't say any more on the matter.  That way you won't be stressing that you might have said too much.

If B is not the patient's next of kin and there are no grounds for a professional conversation, I'd leave it where it is.  If B asks whether you got to see him/her, "Yes I did, thanks".