Question

Your client with an acquired brain injury has been stabilized and is being transferred to another hospital for continuing care. The client is unconscious. Her husband is aware of the transfer, but does not know it is happening today. You tried to reach him by telephone, without success. Before the client is transferred, you want to share information about the care she received and the current plan of care with the nurse who will receive her. The client's cost for this transfer is being covered by private insurance, so you also need to share personal health information with the insurance company. How much information can you share, and with whom, under these circumstances?

Answer 1

When transferring a client between hospitals, sharing necessary details with the receiving nurse and insurance company must comply with HIPAA regulations. The privacy and confidentiality of the client must be preserved, and only the minimum necessary information should be disclosed. Continuous attempts to inform the client's next of kin should be made while respecting patient privacy.

Step-by-step explanation:

When transferring a client with an acquired brain injury to another hospital for continuing care, the amount of information you can share depends on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines. It's essential to provide the receiving nurse with sufficient details on the care received and the current plan of care to ensure continuity of care. Documentation should include the patient's condition, treatment administered, and care plan without revealing unnecessary personal details.

As for the insurance company, only disclose the information necessary for the processing of the cost of the transfer. You must ensure that you adhere to HIPAA regulations on confidentiality and the minimum necessary rule, which dictates that only the least amount of information required to accomplish the intended purpose should be shared. The privacy of the client should be preserved as much as possible.

Efforts should continue to reach the client's husband to inform him about the transfer. Keep in mind that patient privacy should not be breached when communicating with family members, and in the case of incapacity, legal representatives or next of kin should be involved according to the patient's prior directives or applicable laws.

Patient privacy is a complex issue, especially when it involves protected health information (PHI). Balancing the costs of treatment, quality of life, and risks to individual privacy requires addressing key questions regarding confidentiality, the role of insurance in health history knowledge, and the disclosure of information regarding minors. Professionals must always weigh these concerns against the ethical imperative to do no harm, both to the patient and third parties who may be affected. Without explicit consent or specific legal allowances, revealing a patient's diagnosis or health information to third parties, including sexual partners, would likely be a violation of HIPAA regulations.