An infection control nurse is interviewing a client recently diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis. The client is highly distressed and states, "You cannot tell anyone outside this clinic about my illness. I am terrified of the social stigma and could lose my housing." Which response or action by the nurse correctly applies the principles of client confidentiality?
- Inform the client that healthcare facilities are legally mandated to report active tuberculosis cases to the public health department.Cevap
- BAssure the client that their medical information will remain strictly confidential and will not be shared with any external agencies.
- CDelegate the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to educate the client regarding the facility's health information privacy policies.
- DImplement droplet precautions instead of airborne precautions to minimize the visible stigma associated with the client's room.
Cevap
The nurse must inform the client that healthcare facilities are legally mandated to report active tuberculosis cases to the public health department.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) strictly protects client health information, but it includes specific legal exceptions. Healthcare providers are legally mandated to report certain communicable diseases, including active pulmonary tuberculosis, to the local or state public health department. This reporting is required to track outbreaks and protect public safety, and it does not constitute a breach of client confidentiality. The nurse's duty is to transparently inform the client of this legal requirement.
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Mandatory Reporting Exceptions to Confidentiality