HIPAA Alert: Who Can Hear You? Beware of Loose Lips.

"Loose lips sink ships" is a World War II warning about the danger of unguarded talk. 

Are you carefully safeguarding verbal information to protect our patients' privacy? 

Specific complaints made against our organization include:

• Front desk staff speaking too loudly when confirming patient information.

• While waiting in an exam room, standing at the nurse’s station or in the lobby, a patient overhears staff discussing another patient.

• Staff discussing patient information in hallways or the elevator.

• Detailed appointment or result information left on voice mails or answering machines.

Patients are extremely sensitive to issues of identity theft and personal privacy.  Any misstep in safeguarding that information jeopardizes their trust in our organization.  

Imagine that YOU are the patient and it is YOUR information that is being discussed. Then adjust your volume, tone and speech accordingly.  

Questions About HIPAA and how to safeguard verbal information?

Contact HIPAA Privacy Officer Zorana Vojnovic at (402) 354-6863 or @email.