New booklet offers info release guidelines
New booklet offers info release guidelines
The Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, a subgroup of the American Hospital Association, has published a guide for releasing information to the public on the condition of patients.
The guide can be used to formulate hospital policies and procedures.
Information regarding a patient's condition may be released for an inpatient or an emergency department patient, provided the inquiry specifically mentions the patient's name. No information should be given if the request does not mention the patient's name, the guide says.
Patients have the option to request that no information, including confirmation of their presence at the health care facility, be released.
Any information that could embarrass a patient should not be released nor should information that could endanger a patient - giving information to a stalker or abusive partner - including confirmation of presence at the health care facility.
Only a physician can determine the patient's diagnosis and/or prognosis. Except for several one-word conditions - undetermined, good, fair, serious, or critical - no information should be released without the patient's permission, the guide states.
The guide outlines the definitions of the one-word conditions that may be released and what information constitutes matters of public record and handling dissemination of information during a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
Guides can be purchased by calling the society at (800) AHA-2626. Or an order can be faxed to (312) 422-4505. Request catalogue no. C-166850. The booklets are sold in lots of 10. The cost is $18 per lot for Society and AHA members; $28 per lot for nonmembers. For more information contact the Society at (312) 422-3897. Or visit its Web site at http://www.stratsociety.org.
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