Re: Visitor policy in Outpatient

May 11, 2011

Hi Nat,

I can give you some guidance. First remember that the HIPAA regulations

cover " protected health information " (PHI) and any treatment observed is in

a sense releasing that protected health information. Because of that HIPAA

requires that get you patient to sign the appropriate HIPAA form on which

they could list what family members could have access to PHI and what

information can be released/observed. In reality, most will just ask the

patient if it is okay that a family member is present during treatment.

There have been no challenges to this spoken approval that I am aware of.

If you are working for a larger institution there should be clear policy

that needs to be followed regarding this. If the policy is not clear than

it needs to be discussed and a policy determined. Although there have been

no challenges to this, if there ever was a complaint filed by a patient, it

would be good to have that signed HIPAA form as proof of your policy.

Bottom line, until the policy is clarified, make sure staff is asking

permission for family members to be present during treatment.

M. Howell, P.T., M.P.T.

Howell Physical Therapy

Eagle, Idaho

thowell@...

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From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

Of nits_physio

Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 3:29 PM

To: PTManager

Subject: Visitor policy in Outpatient

Hello everyone,

I was wondering, if it is a common practice to NOT allow family/visitors to

accompany patient in the treatment area (out patient) unless deemed

necessary by the treating therapist. I would really appreciate if someone

could comment on this specially in reference to HIPPA regulations.

Thanks in advance

Nat

MI

May 12, 2011

Mr. Howell,

That's good advice!

In addition, we should all be aware that a busy outpatient clinic is never 100%

HIPAA compliant because patients are frequently observing and often interacting

with other patients receiving therapy.

I would be more worried about this type of HIPAA violation than a patient's

family member attending a patient's therapy session.

Jon Mark Pleasant, PT

Methodist Medical Center

>

> Hi Nat,

>

> I can give you some guidance. First remember that the HIPAA regulations

> cover " protected health information " (PHI) and any treatment observed is in

> a sense releasing that protected health information. Because of that HIPAA

> requires that get you patient to sign the appropriate HIPAA form on which

> they could list what family members could have access to PHI and what

> information can be released/observed. In reality, most will just ask the

> patient if it is okay that a family member is present during treatment.

> There have been no challenges to this spoken approval that I am aware of.

> If you are working for a larger institution there should be clear policy

> that needs to be followed regarding this. If the policy is not clear than

> it needs to be discussed and a policy determined. Although there have been

> no challenges to this, if there ever was a complaint filed by a patient, it

> would be good to have that signed HIPAA form as proof of your policy.

> Bottom line, until the policy is clarified, make sure staff is asking

> permission for family members to be present during treatment.

>

> M. Howell, P.T., M.P.T.

>

> Howell Physical Therapy

>

> Eagle, Idaho

>

> thowell@...

>

> This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or

> CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended

> recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its

> attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error

> and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or

> copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you

> have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all

> attachments and notify the sender by reply email.

>

> From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf

> Of nits_physio

> Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 3:29 PM

> To: PTManager

> Subject: Visitor policy in Outpatient

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> I was wondering, if it is a common practice to NOT allow family/visitors to

> accompany patient in the treatment area (out patient) unless deemed

> necessary by the treating therapist. I would really appreciate if someone

> could comment on this specially in reference to HIPPA regulations.

>

> Thanks in advance

> Nat

> MI

>

May 12, 2011

What about family members coming back with patient " A " , but then observing

patients " B " , " C " and " D " ? Do all patients needs to sign a release stating it is

ok for others, family relations or not, to observe them during therapy

treatments?

This just came to mind after reading this post.

Gwilliam, PT,CWS, MHA

Director of Rehabilitation

Bowie Memorial Hospital

Bowie, Texas