What should I do to determine if it is okay to disclose PHI about a non-responsive patient to an individual in person or over the phone?Determine the identity and authority of the individual requesting the information. Find out who the person is and his/her relationship to the patient. If the individual is the patient’s “personal representative” or the person has been granted a power of attorney for health care, then you may disclose information about his/her treatment and/or care. If the person is clearly someone involved in the patient’s care or otherwise familiar with the patient’s condition you may discuss the patient with the individual to the extent necessary for you to obtain relevant information to care of the patient. If you can’t confirm the individual’s relationship to the patient and the individual does not appear to have information needed for the patient’s care you should not share information with the individual. Please document the outcome in the patient’s medical record. | |
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