Our hospital customarily displays patients names next to the door of the hospital rooms that they occupy. Does the Privacy Rule allow us to continue this practice?
The Privacy Rule explicitly permits certain incidental disclosures that occur as a by-product of an otherwise permitted disclosure for example, the disclosure to other patients in a waiting room of the identity of the person whose name is called. In this case, disclosure of patient names by posting on the wall is permitted by the Privacy Rule, if the use or disclosure is for treatment (for example, to ensure that patient care is provided to the correct individual) or health care operations purposes (for example, as a service for patients and their families). The disclosure of such information to other persons (such as other visitors) that will likely also occur due to the posting is an incidental disclosure.
Related Questions
- Our hospital customarily displays patients names next to the door of the hospital rooms that they occupy. Does the Privacy Rule allow us to continue this practice?
- May physician offices use patient sign-in sheets or call out the names of patients in their waiting rooms?
- in sheets or call out the names of their patients in waiting rooms?
