HLT POL 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter N/A: Radiography, Social Security Number, Licensed Practical Nurse

• School: UCLA
• Department: Health Policy and Management
• Course: HLT POL 100
• Professor: Marcy Boroff

Document Summary

Critical care providers are often privy to confidential information in the course of clinical practice. A dilemma can arise when confidential information is requested by family members or friends of the patient. Critical care nurses must be aware of the regulations regarding confidentiality, as well as situations where the use and disclosure of protected health information are permitted. There has been confusion and misinformation regarding the privacy rule3,8 (see sidebar on myths. Nurses often wonder how to respond to questions regarding a patient"s condition, explaining diagnoses and procedures to patients in areas where the conversation may be overheard, and disposing of medications and intravenous infusion bags in an appropriate, confidential manner. 8. Inappropriate disclosures also occur when documents containing patients" information are not disposed of properly. Documents with identifiable information about patients, including patient assignment sheets, diagnostic reports, and billing information should be shredded or otherwise stripped of identification that identifies patients.