1. Workplace Confidentiality Training
by
Dora Knight

2. What is Confidentiality?
The principle in medical ethics that the information a patient reveals to a health care provider is private and has limits on how and when it can be disclosed to a third party.
The ethical principle or legal right that a physician or other health professional will hold secret all information relating to a patient, unless the patient gives consent permitting disclosure.
Dorlands Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers, 2007

3. Confidentiality Codes of Medical Ethics
Hippocratic Oath
Whenever in connection
With my professional practice, or not in connection with it, I see or hear in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge as reckoning that all such should be kept secret

4. Codes of Medical Ethics II
International Code of Ethics
Except when obligated by the law of the country concerned, a doctor shall not disclose, without the consent of the patient, information which he has obtained in the course of his professional relationship with the patient

5. HIPAAs Privacy Rule
Establishes standards to protect the confidentiality of individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by a covered entity in any form, whether electronically, paper-based, or verbally. Individual identifiers are patients name, address, telephone number, date of birth, Medicaid ID number, social security number, medical record number and employer names.

6. Confidentiality
Patients Rights
Exceptions
Information released via of subpoena duces tecum
A written command, signed by the clerk of courts ordering an individual to appear in court with documents
Information released according to statutory reporting requirements for example:
Rape
Abuse
Suicide threats
Patients have the right to confidentiality, which is the process of keeping privileged communication secret and that means that information cannot be disclosed without the patients authorization.

7. Patient Authorization Form

8. Patient Consent Required
Attorneys request
Employers
Government agencies
Health care providers that did not care to patient
HIV related information
Internal Revenue Service
Workers Compensation
3rd party payers
Research that includes treatment
Patient or patient representative
Marketing communication
Law enforcement (Sp Circumstance)

9. Patient Consent Not Required
Health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law
Public health activities
Law enforcement purposes
Judicial & administrative proceedings
Identification & location purposes
Research purposes
Food & Drug Adm.
Workers Compensation
Specialized government functions
Decedents

10. (FYI) For Your Information
Record storage access is limited to authorized users only
Record storage access area remains locked at all times
The original medical record remains in the facility at all times
Only authorized users of patient information will control access to patients information
Follow the tracking procedures to sign out patient information to authorized users

11. Protecting Confidential Information
All chart handlers must sign statements agreeing to protect the confidentiality of all individuals medical information.

12. Breech of Confidentiality
Employees found guilty of breech of confidentiality are subject to severe action, up to and including dismissal.

13. The End