HIPAA Case Study Essay

519 Words2 Pages

1. Under HIPAA, are you legally allowed to view this patient’s medical information? Why or why not?

Answer: Confidentiality of a patient’s file with personal and medical information in the healthcare industry is crucial. However, under the HIPPA guidelines it is legally allowed to view a patient’s file if it pertains to the patients medically necessary. Therefore, being that this patient left his prescriptions and after care instructions after his outpatient surgery procedure, it is vital that he be contacted so that healing complications are prevented during his recovery. 2. In this case, how would you be able to correct your error and provide the missing documents and instructions to the patient while still protecting patient confidentiality under HIPAA?

Answer: In this particular case, I would address my concerns of left behind documentation with the physician of care of this patient. Typically in an ER setting, when this occurs the physician immediately contacts the patient himself, or he is unable to he then gives the charge nurse on duty instructions to taking care of this matter.

3. List 3 ways patient confidentiality is maintained in the reception/waiting area of a medical office. …show more content…

In addition, the patients should be called to the exam room by his/her last name only. This process also protects the patients identify through confidentiality. Last but not least, the most vital way to maintain confidentiality for a patient is by avoiding any personal or medical questions out in the open for others to hear in the reception/waiting

Open Document