Question

Is it acceptable and within the bounds of your scribe scope to look up the CBC result on another patient and relay the message to the nurse while your provider is busy dealing with a critically ill patient and the ED is picking up pace?

1) True
2) False

Answer 1

It is not acceptable for a scribe to look up a patient's CBC results and relay this information to a nurse because it violates patient privacy regulations such as HIPAA, and scribes are not part of the direct care team for patients they are not assigned to.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking whether it's appropriate for a scribe to access the Complete Blood Count (CBC) results of another patient and communicate this information to a nurse when the provider is occupied with a critically ill patient, and the emergency department (ED) is becoming busy. In terms of medical protocol and patient privacy, this is not acceptable. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that all patient information, including lab results, be kept confidential and only be accessed by individuals directly involved in the patient's care. Thus, as a scribe, you are not permitted to access a patient's medical information unless it is for the specific task assigned by the provider who is responsible for that patient's care. In a busy ED, communication and chain of command are crucial, and roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined to maintain patient privacy and ensure quality care.