Privacy and Patient Confidentiality
We understand that medical information
about you and your health is personal and
private. We are committed to protecting your
medical information, and actively work with
families, employees, vendors, and outside
agencies to promote and maintain your
privacy.
To respect your medical privacy, we ask
that you share medical information with your
family and friends as you believe to be
appropriate.
Although you identified an emergency
contact during the admissions process, that
person will only be contacted for urgent
matters.
Confidential Admission
You may request confidential admission if
you do not want others to know that you are
a patient at the Medical Center. If you make
such a request, callers and visitors will be
told you are not a patient. Mail, gifts, and
flowers sent to you will be returned to the
sender or to the florist.
Requests for Privacy
If you are in a semi-private room,
visitors may be asked to leave if you or the
patient sharing the room requests privacy to
discuss medical issues.
Electronic Mail
By its nature, the Internet is not
secure. Do not use electronic mail (e-mail)
to send or to request sensitive information.
The Medical Center cannot guarantee the
confidentiality of any messages transmitted
over the Internet.
Some caregivers prefer not to communicate
with their patients via e-mail. Following
your discharge, check with your caregiver’s
office by telephone before sending e-mails.
If your caregiver accepts e-mail, ask the
caregiver’s office what information needs to
be included in the subject line and whether
you need to include your full name, date of
birth, and medical record number in the body
of your note. If you do use e-mail, restrict
its use to routine matters or for requesting
information.
A few reminders:
- In a medical emergency, call 9-1-1
immediately.
- Contact your caregiver’s office by
telephone to discuss sensitive
information and to report sudden or
significant changes in your health.
- Your caregiver may retain or
document e-mail communications in your
medical record. This may be accomplished
by summarizing the message in a written
note.
Additional Information
You can obtain additional information
about the Medical Center’s patient privacy
and confidentiality policy by talking with
your nurse. Or, you may contact the Privacy
Officer at extension 8055 (or (717) 531-8055
from outside the Medical Center). |
