Read each of the following scenarios. Answer the questions that follow in detail, using complete sentences. Defend your reasoning.
1) You are working as a medical assistant in Dr. Jones’ office, who is a general practitioner. Dr. Jones went to medical school with Dr. Smith, who is a cardiologist in town, and someone he commonly refers patients to. Your mother went to see Dr. Smith last year and did not like his bedside manner. Because of this, she decided not to see Dr. Smith but another cardiologist instead. One day at work, Dr. Jones refers a patient to Dr. Smith. This new patient asks you if, “Dr. Smith a good doctor?” If you were to tell the patient your personal opinion how do you think this might impact their relationship that Dr. Jones and Dr. Smith currently have? Are there any other ramifications that you can think of?
2) A patient who is separated from her husband but is not yet divorced has been admitted to the hospital following a car accident. On her admission form she specifically stated that she does not want information released to her husband. During the night the patient’s conditions changed and she required emergency surgery. She is currently on life support recovering in the ICU. In the morning, the patient’s husband calls the hospital inquiring about his wife. Because he is the father of the children, he wants to know what is going on so that he can make child care arrangements. What do you do? Defend your reasoning.
3) The Doctor’s office where you work has had a particularly busy month. In order to catch up on some paperwork, the doctor allows you to take your laptop computer home. While stopping to pick up your children from daycare, someone breaks into your car and steals your laptop, which contains patient files and private information. Have you committed a HIPAA violation? What safeguards should be taken so that information does not fall into the wrong hands?