Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is an important aspect of professional behavior, and includes concepts related to ethics and law. It is essential that the health care professional carefully protects information of a sensitive and private nature. Students will have access to health information of patients encountered during clinical experiences. This privilege requires that students maintain the privacy and confidentiality of all patients. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates regulations designed to ensure patient privacy that all health care providers must follow. Students must comply with HIPAA regulations and all procedures developed for its implementation. Violation of HIPAA will result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the program and College.

• All medical information/records/reports regarding a client are confidential. This information will not be given to other individuals unless proper authorization is obtained.
• It is not appropriate to discuss or reveal any client’s treatment and care in public places or with individuals who have not been directly involved in the care of the client or who have no reason to know.
• Information gained in the course of a professional relationship is not to be used for personal gain or disclosed to competitors, suppliers, contractors, family members or other associates.
• All computer system access codes and passwords that have been assigned are confidential. Access codes are not to be disclosed to anyone. The IT department should be contacted immediately if there is a reason to suspect the confidentiality of an access code has been compromised.
• All clients, associates and/or organizational, financial, or clinical information retrieved from any and all computer system(s) is strictly confidential. Any records used by students must have the identifying information obscured. Records may not be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, or removed from the premises in any form.
• Students must adhere to institution policy concerning confidentiality, especially in relation to information given over the phone about the client and in speaking to reporters or other news media.
• Student must adhere to the specified guidelines while practicing in an area of health care where special mandates concerning confidentiality exist (i.e. psychiatric nursing).
• Students are prohibited from printing electronic patient health information (PHI). Violations of HIPAA regulations, including the printing of PHI, will result in disciplinary action, up to and including immediate dismissal from the program and the College.

The above list should not be considered as all-inclusive. It is understood that the specific hospital policy will be enforced in-regards to confidentiality and breaches thereof. The College and faculty do not assume responsibility for violations committed by students. Students will be required to read and submit a Confidentiality Agreement prior to participating in clinical rotations. Refusal to sign this agreement will constitute dismissal from SCHS.