Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    obyl's Avatar
    obyl Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Sep 17, 2009, 11:16 AM
    Is this a hipaa violation?
    I worked in hospital in the business office. That's the office which sends the claims to your insurance company to be paid. I accessed a co-workers account to get her phone number to call her back after a call she made to the office was disconnected only to call her back. I did not give her phone number to anyone nor did I discuss anything I saw. I can't even remember her phone number. Is this a hipaa violation?
    perdomo's Avatar
    perdomo Posts: 17, Reputation: 2
    New Member
    		  
    #2

    Sep 17, 2009, 11:26 AM

    As long as you accessed her account for business reasons which you did because she called you. Then I would have to say No...
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #3

    Sep 17, 2009, 12:21 PM

    Did the account have her medical information or just demographics? Most likely not a violation since you have access to all accounts of all patients, right? Also you had a legitament reason to open the file
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #4

    Sep 17, 2009, 01:32 PM

    Have not heard from you on what was in the file but after thinking about this I now think it is a violation. Unless you were working on here insurance claim you had many other options to get her number without opening the file. While it may have been convenient and unintentional you opened a medical file which had private informnation other than the phone number.
    obyl's Avatar
    obyl Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #5

    Sep 18, 2009, 09:41 PM
    There were no other options to obtain her phone number and the first screen you see has a patients demographics. No I did not see any of her personal health information. Needless to say, I lost my job because of this.
    oeengineer's Avatar
    oeengineer Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #6

    Sep 26, 2009, 02:24 PM

    No, unless Patient information was accessed or views.
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Hipaa violation? [ 4 Answers ]

During a group casual meeting, medical information was disclosed to the group from an individual, is this a hipaa violation? Would this be considered a civil or criminal penalty?

HIPAA Violation [ 2 Answers ]

I just started seeing a new Chiropractor. Yesterday he gave me a file to take home stating that it was my info. When I opened it today it was another Pt's information and only contiained billing info about me. I no longer wish to see this doctor as he violated HIPAA and I don't know whether he...

Is this a HIPAA violation? [ 3 Answers ]

If a medical Transcriptionist speaks to a patient whom he knows casually - And about whom he has transcribed a chart note - about that patient's physical condition, is the Transcriptionist in violation of HIPAA? . The patient did not directly tell the Transcriptionist about the physical condition...

HIPAA Violation? [ 3 Answers ]

If a manager mentions a health issue that an employee had before (cancer) to another employee or accuses the employee who had the illness that the former illness is effecting her judgement at work, is that a HIPAA violation? If not, is it a law violation. If yes, which one and is there a remedy...

View more questions Search