Patients' Rights - Confidentiality

Patients have the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to their care will be treated as confidential, and that their rights to privacy will be protected. Therefore, all health care providers must treat patient related information in a confidential manner, and guard against the indiscriminant and/or unauthorized release of such information. Although such an act may occur unintentionally, the hospital, physicians and other health care providers may be found liable for the unauthorized or improper disclosure of medical information.

Discussion of patient related information should be conducted only in locations where confidentiality can be maintained. Health care providers should refrain from such discussions in elevators, hallways, dining areas and other public areas. Health care providers should use discretion when discussing medical information concerning a patient in front of visitors or family members, and should first determine whether the patient wishes to have this information discussed in the presence of such persons. In addition, the patient's permission should be obtained prior to leaving a message containing confidential medical information on a telephone answering machine, or with family and/or household members. Health care providers should not disclose patient related information when asked by unidentified or unknown persons, or in response to telephone inquiries, other than providing hospital approved condition reports, e.g., critical, stable, etc. In such situations, the requesting party should be referred to the patient's attending physician for further information.

Patients' medical records should be guarded at all times in areas where entries to the record are made to prevent unauthorized access. Medical records should be stored and protected according to hospital policy, preventing passers-by from viewing the record. Access to patient information via electronic systems should also be protected according to hospital policy, with access code and password security maintained.

In order to maintain the peer review privilege and patient confidentiality, staff meetings to discuss patients and M & M reviews should be conducted in appropriate locations. Materials distributed should be collected and not left for members of the general public to find.