While updating records at the centralized nursing station, a practical nurse receives a phone call from an individual claiming to be the spouse of a newly admitted client. The caller requests an update on the client's surgical outcome but cannot provide the facility-required privacy passcode. Which action should the practical nurse take?
- State that no information regarding any client can be confirmed or shared without the correct privacy passcode.Answer
- BCheck the admission chart to verify the caller's name as the emergency contact before providing the update.
- CProvide a brief, generalized update that the client is in stable condition and resting comfortably.
- DTransfer the phone call directly to the client's room so the caller can speak with the client.
Answer
State that no information regarding any client can be confirmed or shared without the correct privacy passcode.
Under confidentiality regulations (HIPAA), healthcare facilities establish specific security protocols, such as privacy passcodes, to verify the identity of callers. If a caller cannot provide this passcode, the nurse must refuse to disclose any information, including confirming or denying whether the individual is a client at the facility. This protects the client from unauthorized privacy breaches.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Information Security and Telephone Disclosures