Can the phone number of a patient’s room be released as part of the facility directory?
Yes. The phone number of the patient's room in the [...]
Can the fact that a patient has been “treated and released,” or that a patient has died, be released as part of the facility directory?
Yes. The fact that a patient has been "treated and [...]
Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit a hospital to inform callers or visitors of a patient’s location and general condition in the emergency room, even if the patient’s information would not normally be included in the main hospital directory of admitted patients?
Yes. The Privacy Rule permits covered entities to maintain more [...]
Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit hospitals and other health care facilities to inform visitors or callers about a patient’s location in the facility and general condition?
Yes. Covered hospitals and other covered health care providers can [...]
Can a patient have a friend or family member pick up a prescription for her?
Yes. A pharmacist may use professional judgment and experience with [...]
May physician’s offices or pharmacists leave messages for patients at their homes, either on an answering machine or with a family member, to remind them of appointments or to inform them that a prescription is ready? May providers continue to mail appointment or prescription refill reminders to patients’ homes?
Yes. The HIPAA Privacy Rule permits health care providers to [...]
When a covered entity, such as a doctor, uses a certified Telecommunications Relay Service to contact patients with hearing or speech impairments, is the Relay Service a business associate of the doctor?
Under the Privacy Rule, a covered entity such as a [...]
Must a covered health care provider obtain an individual’s authorization to use or disclose protected health information to an interpreter?
No, when a covered health care provider uses an interpreter [...]