Final answer:
The true statement about the facility directory is that patients can choose to be excluded from it without giving consent for inclusion initially. The directory does not include sensitive health information, and patients do not have to opt-in to be listed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The true statement regarding the facility directory is: Patients can choose to be excluded from the directory. When it comes to patient information in healthcare facilities, the facility directory often contains limited information such as the patient’s name, location in the facility, general condition, and religious affiliation (if provided by the patient and only for clergy members). It is a tool for friends, family, and others to determine a patient’s general condition and location within the facility for visitation purposes.
The facility directory does not include sensitive health information to protect patient privacy. Additionally, according to the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare facilities typically allow patients to opt-out of being listed in the directory, rather than requiring them to opt-in. This means if a patient does not wish to be part of the directory, they have the right to request exclusion without needing to give consent to be included in the first place.