HIPPA violation in my workplace

[Trose76]

I work in the physician's office where I am also a patient. A coworker who is also the office nurse and my boss accessed my electronic medical record and viewed my information. She then proceeded to question me AND my doctor regarding why I was being prescribed certain medications. Was my privacy violated here?

 

[disagreeable]

No. He was doing it to ensure patient safety. Here is a HIPAA guidance letter.

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/lettertonationhcp.pdf

 

[Trose76]

Thank you for your reply. I think maybe you missunderstood my question or I wasn't quite clear. This was an incident involving my boss accessing my electronic medical record at my doctors office where I also work. There was no forseeable threat to my safety or that of anyone else's. She justified looking at my health information because she works in the office and stated I should expect that the staff there can access my records because they work there and I am a patient. My question is just because I work there, do I lose my right to privacy as a patient? Thanks.

 

[Proserpina]

Disagreeable got it right actually.

Did your employer actually explain what HIPAA is and isn't? I think that's the issue you have.

 

[Trose76]

Disagreeable got it right actually.

Did your employer actually explain what HIPAA is and isn't? I think that's the issue you have.

I thought I had a somewhat solid understanding of it but apparently, I do not. I didn't know that by working in an office where I am also treated as a patient I forfeit the right to keep my healthcare private from all of my co-workers. Thank you for the information.

 

[cbg]

Your understanding can't be too solid if you can't even abbreviate it correctly. It's not HIPPA, it's HIPAA.

 

[Trose76]

There's no need for rudeness. I'm here asking for direction and clearly stated I didn't understand. I was under the impression this forum was here for those seeking advice and clarification on matters they aren't sure of. Did I misunderstand that as well? I was conflicted on the subject because there are physicians we work with who are also treated in our practice and we do not have access to their health information through our emr system. It is locked and only visible to the rendering provider. I was simply asking whether or not my health information should also be granted the same level of privacy under the law from all individuals in the practice who don't need access to it. Thanks so much to those who provided a professional reply. I appreciate the guidance on this matter.

 

[Trose76]

I apologize for not being grammatically accurrate enough for your liking In the moment. It was the middle of the night. I stand corrected brainiac. Maybe you should be an English professor instead of an advisor on legal matters, unless not abbreviating correctly is a crime that I'm ignorant to as well.