I work in a doctor's office. Under hippa Law, do we address patients by their first or last names?

I work in a doctor's office. Under hippa Law, do we address patients by their first or last names?



My husband was a Pharmacist and addressed people by their first names, as does my Physician.

Acoast, its HIPAA. Greg are you sure you want to tag along on acoast's post??

I work in a doctor's office. Under hippa Law, do we address patients by their first or last names?

HIPAA law is irrelevant. Ask the patient what they are most comfortable with; I refer to all of my customers by their first name and they've never asked me to refer to them otherwise.

HIPAA law is irrelevant. Ask the patient what they are most comfortable with; I refer to all of my customers by their first name and they've never asked me to refer to them otherwise.


I think OP is asking about confidentiality - whether a person could be identified by last name or, therefore, should be addressed by first name.

I prefer Your Majesty.

I think OP is asking about confidentiality - whether a person could be identified by last name or, therefore, should be addressed by first name.

I prefer Your Majesty.

Even so - addressing someone by their full name still doesn't disclose anything that should be protected by HIPAA... unless of course, the OP announces, "Mr. Bob Jones with esophagal cancer? The doctor is ready to see you now."

And I'm quite partial to Your Highness ;)

First names work OK, until there are 3 or 4 chucks or bills in a waiting room.
But to be honest, since they are there in person, and anyone can see them going into the office, merely knowing they are there is not really the issue.

In a doctor's office it doesn't matter... when calling the patient in for the exam both names can be used since you are not revealing the nature of their visit... For example if you call "Jane" there may be 2 or 3 "Jane's" in the waiting room... if you call Ms. Thigpen, there may be 2 or 3 Mrs. Thigpen's in the waiting room. Now, you narrow it down if you call out Jane Thigpen.

The name is called out, but the diagnosis or the reason for the visit is still kept confidential. If the patient wishes to remain anonymous, they need to tell the front desk this and other methods are used. Some offices have special waiting rooms, while others will assign a fictitious name to the person in question.

The question has been pretty much answered. But I wanted to add that HIPAA law doesn't address this issue. Common sense needs to used. If referring to a patient by their lastname might compromise their privacy then don't.

For example, if this is a psychiatrist's office, then addressing someone by last name, might identify them revealing they are receiving psychiatrict treatment. On the other hand, in a GP's office, it wouldn't reveal anything about diagnosis.