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  1. #1
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Hippa

    I'm wondering how all you guys handle this:
    Sometimes, I have a secretary/assistant come in to pick up glasses, or check on the status for his/her boss. Or, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.

    Now, my understanding of HIPPA is that I cannot even verify that John Smith has been seen here unless you are John Smith, and I've verified two pieces of personal information (address, phone, etc.).
    So, when someone comes in and asks to p/u glasses for John Smith, I ask, "are you his wife?" and they say, "no, I'm his assistant/secretary" I'm not sure what to do.
    On one hand, they're just glasses, it's not like I'm dealing with HIV test results, here. I highly doubt that any information I know about their vision is information that they would consider secret.
    On the other hand, it's illegal to even say he's a patient of ours! I mean, I don't mind husband/wife or parent/child, but boyfriends and employees? I don't want to be an inconvienence to these folks, but I also want to respect the patient's privacy. (When I worked at LC, I was instructed not to even talk with spouses of the patients about their glasses/prescription etc.)

    How do you guys protect patient's rights without being an inconvienence?

  2. #2
    What's up? drk's Avatar
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    Use common sense and eschew rigid aherence to federal mandates that may change on a whim.

  3. #3
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    Actually I think it has been ruled that all that silly Hippa stuff does not apply to eyeglasses except when dealing with insurance, medicare, medicaid and the like.

    Chip

  4. #4
    Bad address email on file
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    Of all the attended Hippa seminars I've been to, it's always staated to use our best judgement. Some offices take the hippa rules a bit too far. Dispensing glasses to a boyfriend or secretary isn't going to get you in a ny trouble. You need to remember why the Hipaa rules were put into place to begin with. It wasn't set because of you.

  5. #5
    Ophthalmic Optician
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    Quote Originally Posted by shellrob View Post
    Dispensing glasses to a secretary isn't going to get you in a ny trouble...
    ...unless his wife finds out!:finger:

  6. #6
    Vision Equipment OptiBoard Corporate Sponsor Leo Hadley Jr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Johns View Post
    ...unless his wife finds out!:finger:
    :bbg:
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  7. #7
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    Its HIPAA. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

  8. #8
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Unless someone is leaving personal information around in view of others I don't worry too much about HIPPA and HIPPA doesn't worry too much about me.

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