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Newsroom
Patient Information and the Media
Effective April 14, 2003, new federal regulations require us to be even more vigilant in safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of our patients’ medical conditions.
Condition reports
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA, we may release information about the condition of a patient only if the inquiry specifically contains the patient’s name. If the patient has not requested that information be withheld, and the request for information contains the patient’s name, we will generally be able to release the patient’s condition. However, we will do so in general terms that do not communicate specific medical information. Below are the one-word descriptions we will be able to provide:
- Undetermined
- Good
- Fair
- Serious
- Critical
A description of the nature of a patient’s accident or injuries, while given in the past, is not permissible under HIPAA without written authorization from the patient. Additionally, patients have the option of requesting that we disclose no information about them or even confirm their presence in the hospital.
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