Patient Privacy (HIPPA)
What is HIPAA?
The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, often referred to as HIPAA, is a policy that requires health care professionals to protect the privacy and security of patients' medical information. This Privacy Policy was implemented on April 10, 2003 at Memorial Health System.
This policy changed how patients' information could be used, in what situations information could be disclosed, and what rights patients have regarding their health information. It also changed what information could be given to the public about a patient.
A patient has the choice to be included or not be included in the patient directory.
- If they choose to be included, then their name, location in the hospital and general condition may be provided to any person asking about them by name (including phone inquiries), and to members of the clergy (including religious affiliation), family members, individuals involved in their health care, for disaster relief effort, or as required by law.
- If they choose to not be included, mail addressed to the patient would be returned and any flowers sent to the patient would not be delivered. Any person, including visitors, asking for the patient by name, including outside telephone calls would not be forwarded and would be told, “There is no one by that name listed in our patient directory.”
Patients will be asked during their nursing assessment for the names and phone numbers of individuals with whom the hospital and providers can verbally discuss their health information.
Questions regarding our privacy practices should be directed to our Privacy Officer at 263-6611.
