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Patient Information Confidentiality Policy

Privacy

Privacy is a patient's right to have all records and information pertaining to his/her health care treated as confidential. Examples of patient privacy include the following:

• Every discussion and consultation by DFCI staff about a patient is conducted in a discreet and confidential manner.
• Respect and common courtesy, such as knocking before entering a patient's room, is extended to all patients.
• When staff interview or examine patients, every effort is made to afford the patient with reasonable audio and visual privacy.
• Patients have the right to know what role any observer may have in their care and also of their right to request that the observer leave.
• Personal or medical details of a patient's condition or treatment are not casually disclosed to others, nor are such discussions conducted in public areas such as elevators, lobbies, cafeterias, etc.
• Staff discretion is used when leaving messages on telephone answering machines or fax machines.
• Federal guidelines known as HIPAA, that took effect in April 2003, further protect the privacy of your medical information.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a status afforded to information that requires it to be protected from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. Examples of patient information confidentiality procedures include:

• Only those persons authorized to read an individual's medical record on an inpatient unit or ambulatory care site have access to the medical record.
• Researchers wanting access to specific records must fulfill DFCI research policy before obtaining access.
• Family or household members, even close relatives, may not obtain copies of the medical record without appropriate authorization except in special circumstances, as defined by the Medical Records Department.
• Patient records will be kept in a secure location at all times in clinics and on inpatient floors