The One Dozen Most Important Things You May Not Have Known, Understood, or Realized About American Medicine
Confidentiality - Overview
Information regarding a patient’s identity, medical diagnoses, and treatment plans are considered confidential. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) describes precautions that regulate the sharing of a patient’s health care information. In addition to maintaining the confidentiality of written medical records, physicians should also be aware of the risks to confidentiality posed by thoughtless conversation. Patients and patient information should never be discussed in public areas such as hospital corridors, elevators, or dining areas.