Confidentiality is important to our patients 

●          All confidential, sensitive information should be reliably handled without using it for personal reasons.

 

●          All written confidential information that is obtained regarding a patient should be destroyed (shredded.)

 

●          All patient information is confidential and misuse of information or disclosure to unauthorized persons is grounds for loss of the UTMB Ministry Badge and its privileges.

 ●          Permission should be obtained from a patient before disclosing any information--such as the following:

-whom you may share the information with (Asst. Pastor, wife, church leaders, congregation, prayer groups, etc…)

-sharing the fact that the patient is in the hospital.

-sharing diagnosis

-sharing tre atment plan 

-sharing prognosis 

For your information:

 HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. HIPAA security and privacy violations carry stiff federal penalties…

 -           “Knowingly” disclosing individually identifiable health information ranges from $50,000 to $250,000 in fines and up to 10 years in jail

 -           “Non-compliance” ranges from $100 to $25,000 for each violation