Question 7 / 14
Sarah works in a residential care facility and has become quite attached to the elderly patients living in Building A. ?She’s reassigned to Building ??, ?but still worries about her former patients. She periodically checks their charts to confirm they’re doing OK.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer to this scenario is:
“Sarah’s actions are a violation of patient confidentiality and privacy under HIPAA regulations.”
Explanation:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) establishes strict guidelines for protecting patient information. According to HIPAA, healthcare workers, including those working in residential care facilities, may only access patient records when they have a legitimate reason related to their job duties. Sarah’s actions—checking charts of patients she no longer cares for—violate this principle because:
- Lack of a Legitimate Work-Related Purpose:
HIPAA allows access to Protected Health Information (PHI) only for treatment, payment, or operational purposes directly related to the worker’s role. Since Sarah is no longer assigned to the patients in Building A, she has no work-related justification for reviewing their charts. - Potential Breach of Confidentiality:
By accessing patient records without a valid reason, Sarah risks exposing sensitive information. Even though her intentions are caring, unauthorized access can still result in legal and professional repercussions. - Ethical Boundaries:
While it’s natural to feel attached to former patients, professionals must maintain appropriate boundaries. Sarah should prioritize her new responsibilities in Building B and trust her colleagues to provide adequate care for the patients in Building A. - Consequences of Violating HIPAA:
Unauthorized access to PHI can lead to disciplinary actions, termination of employment, fines, and damage to professional reputation. Residential care facilities must monitor and enforce compliance to ensure patient trust and legal adherence.
Instead of checking charts, Sarah could request periodic updates from her colleagues in a general manner, without accessing PHI. This approach respects patient privacy while allowing her to stay informed within professional limits.