Clinical experience requires students to access protected health information about clients. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires health information about clients to be secured and kept confidential. As a student, there is a legal and ethical need to protect a client’s right to privacy. Client information will not be shared in any form or medium, including written, verbal, or electronic methods, with anyone other than those who are directly responsible for the patient’s care and treatment. Patient identifiers include, but are not limited to name, medical record number and visit number, dates including birth date, date of admission and date of discharge. Patient care information will be discussed only in-patient care areas and with acute awareness of who is within hearing range.
While students may write down essential information for the preparation and care of clients, information that identifies a client in any way may not be taken from the clinical site. No records may be photocopied for any reason. It is unlawful to disclose all individually identifiable information. This relates to information about past, present and future:
- Physical and mental health.
- Provision of healthcare to the client.
- Payment for the client’s healthcare.
Violation of this policy may result in clinical and/or disciplinary probation, dismissal, and/or legal and financial consequences.