The HEC abides by the UTMB Institutional Handbook of Operating Procedures regarding confidentiality and privacy. The HEC also abides by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) wherever applicable.
In order to preserve the integrity of the scenarios used for learning activities and to provide an equitable learning experience for each student, all persons using the HEC will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Every simulation has the possibility of being recorded, therefore students are expected to uphold all requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and any other federal or state laws requiring confidentiality. Individuals violating this agreement should be reported to responsible faculty.
The HEC has the ability to record and display a variety of media. Cameras, microphones, and control rooms are located on every floor and in the cargo elevator. The recording equipment should not be used unless proper training has been provided. All recordings will be backed and stored per UTMB policy. Recordings can be used for educational purposes and debriefing opportunities with the appropriate faculty, staff and students as well as for research purposes. The confidentiality agreement signed by students protects privacy and discourages inappropriate discussion of video contents or student’s performance in the simulation scenarios. Any viewing or publication outside of the classroom, such as posting on YouTube, is unacceptable and unethical and will result in disciplinary action. Students and faculty should conduct themselves professionally as in the clinical setting since all interactions can be recorded. All recorded media will be kept on file as previously outlined.