I am a front office medical secretary, I want to know what to do about the fact that my boss lets two children whose mother is the scheduler at my workplace, he lets them run patient charts back and forth, file patient charts, copy and fax patient charts, even play on the computers while they are out on summer break,, these children are approximately 12 and 14 and not employed with the practice in any capacity. Is this not a serious violation of HIPPA? Thank You. Linze 47

I think they would have to be reading the information and passing it on to others for it to be a HIPAA violation.

As long as they do not share the information then a HIPAA violation may not exist. However, if someone sees these kids doing this, and files a complaint the doctor could be in trouble. I would explain this to him.

Generally children of any age in a workplace situation is uncalled for. Doing clerical work, even filing, is not a good idea. I would tell the doctor that it's not a good idea to have children as office workers in his practice. This is extremely unprofessional conduct on that woman and unprofessional conduct on the part of the doctor as well. Is he that strapped for cash that he has to stoop to unpaid children to work for him? The scheduler is not a medical professional. She is merely an office worker. I really think she has overstepped her bounds and should leave the kids at home period.

Also, the children need work permits to perform any work (paid or unpaid). Certain jobs are not allowed to be performed by children. Possibly the medical office would fall under one of the work conditions not allowed to be performed by children (under the age of 17 in some states). Maybe CPS needs to get involved and make the mother stop bringing in her little darlings to the workplace. I would definitely check out the work permits angle before the HIPAA angle.

Have to spread the rep
I was thinking of the child labor laws but didn't know the extent of what was permissible and what wasn't