if a family member asks about a patient condition what is the best course of action

by Mr. Consuelo O'Kon 4 min read

Can a person be involved in a patient’s care?

When someone other than a friend or family member is involved, the health care provider must be reasonably sure that the patient asked the person to be involved in his or her care or payment for care. The health care provider may discuss only the information that the person involved needs to know about the patient’s care or payment.

What motivates a family member to seek medical advice?

The family member or friend is motivated by one or more interests. These include mere curiosity, need for guidance in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar environment, concern about oneself or a loved one, a desire for “free” advice, and frustration or anger with another physician, the health care system, or events.

Why do some physicians feel the need to control medical situations?

Sometimes physicians feel they need to control the medical situation of their friend or relative because they think they possess the appropriate expertise or do not trust other physicians or the system to do the right thing.

What is the correct response to watching your loved one suffer?

A. "Your feelings are a normal response to watching your loved one suffer." B. "It's unusual for family members to be grateful that a loved one has died." C.

Can a nurse discuss a patient's condition with the patient's brother?

Can a health care provider share information with family?

Does HIPAA require proof of identity?

Can a health care provider share a patient's health information?

Can a healthcare provider pick up a prescription?

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How do you deal with a difficult family member of a patient?

When you are faced with a rude family member of a patient, here are some things you can do to help the situation.Greet everyone in the room and smile. Don't ignore the patient's family members. ... Offer to get them a snack or drink. ... Ask them if they have any questions.

What is the best approach to dealing with difficult patients?

Dealing with an aggressive patient takes care, judgement and self-control. Remain calm, listen to what they are saying, ask open-ended questions. Reassure them and acknowledge their grievances. Provide them with an opportunity to explain what has angered them.

What techniques would you use to handle a distressed family member of a patient?

LISTEN. When someone is concerned or upset the best thing you can do is to listen to them. ... ASK QUESTIONS. Once you've listened to what they have to say, go a step further and ask questions. ... SET BOUNDARIES. ... KNOW YOUR LIMITS.

Can a doctor discuss a patient with a family member?

Answer: Yes. The HIPAA Privacy Rule at 45 CFR 164.510(b) specifically permits covered entities to share information that is directly relevant to the involvement of a spouse, family members, friends, or other persons identified by a patient, in the patient's care or payment for health care.

How would you handle a difficult situation in nursing?

10 expert tips for dealing with difficult patientsDon't take it personally. "Just knowing that the nastiness is not about you is a good start." ... Look for the underlying cause. ... Learn to prioritize. ... Show that you care. ... Know your strengths & weaknesses. ... Pay attention. ... Stay calm. ... Connect with the patient.More items...•

How do you handle patient complaints?

Follow these six steps for how to handle patient complaints that will leave patients feeling satisfied and heard.Listen to them. ... Acknowledge their feelings. ... Ask questions. ... Explain and take action. ... Conclude. ... Document complaints.

How do you handle a situation when a patient's family?

Tips for Handling a Patient's Disruptive Family MemberDon't take it personally. When people are fearful or worried, they may be argumentative or aggressive, taking their misplaced anger out on you. ... Acknowledge the emotions. ... Listen reflectively. ... Be direct and firm. ... You don't need to have all the answers.

How would you handle a family member who as a healthcare professional disagrees with the patient teaching you are conducting related to long term parenteral nutrition?

When patients, families disagree on treatment: 6 ways forwardGet to know the patient's family. ... Minimize confusion. ... Help everyone identify their values. ... Encourage the patient to be open. ... Preserve confidentiality. ... Don't hesitate to call in help.

How do you comfort a family patient?

For the Family1) Acknowledge that you can't imagine how they are feeling. ... 2) Ask about their loved one. ... 3) Ask them what they need. ... 4) Help them connect with those who will best support them. ... 5) Ask if they want to speak with a doctor about any questions that have come up.More items...

What is the correct response when a relative calls asking about a patient?

exam 1QuestionAnswerWhat is the correct response when a relative calls asking about a patienthave the physician return the telephone callNonprivileged information about a patient consists of the patient'scity of residenceExceptions to the right of privacy rule includegunshot wound cases69 more rows

How should health information be provided to the patient and their relatives?

Patients must express consent in order for personal medical information to be disclosed to family members. This consent may be explicit or implicit, verbal, written, or expressed through actions.

Can you share patient information with family members?

Under HIPAA, your health care provider may share your information face-to-face, over the phone, or in writing. A health care provider or health plan may share relevant information if: You give your provider or plan permission to share the information. You are present and do not object to sharing the information.

How do you handle phone calls from family/others? - allnurses

Well, if you can't ask the patient for permission to share information (say they are intubated) then we do follow guidelines. Usually, if lots of family or friends are calling, we refer them to the legal next of kin who is usually empowered to make decisions for that pt.

488-Does HIPAA permit a doctor to discuss a patient’s health with the ...

Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit a doctor to discuss a patient’s health status, treatment, or payment arrangements with the patient’s family and friends?

Disclosures to Family and Friends | HHS.gov

Office for Civil Rights Headquarters. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 Toll Free Call Center: 1-800-368-1019

Can a nurse discuss a patient's condition with the patient's brother?

A nurse may not discuss a patient’s condition with the patient’s brother after the patient has stated she does not want her family to know about her condition.

Can a health care provider share information with family?

Yes. If the patient is not present or is incapacitated, a health care provider may share the patient’s information with family, friends, or others as long as the health care provider determines, based on professional judgment, that it is in the best interest of the patient. When someone other than a friend or family member is involved, the health care provider must be reasonably sure that the patient asked the person to be involved in his or her care or payment for care. The health care provider may discuss only the information that the person involved needs to know about the patient’s care or payment.

Does HIPAA require proof of identity?

No. If the caller states that he or she is a family member or friend of the patient, or is involved in the patient’s care or payment for care, then HIPAA doesn’t require proof of identity in this case. However, a health care provider may establish his or her own rules for verifying who is on the phone. In addition, when someone other than a friend or family member is involved, the health care provider must be reasonably sure that the patient asked the person to be involved in his or her care or payment for care.

Can a health care provider share a patient's health information?

Yes. Where a health care provider is allowed to share a patient’s health information with a person, information may be shared face-to-face, over the phone, or in writing.

Can a healthcare provider pick up a prescription?

Yes. HIPAA allows health care providers to use professional judgment and experience to decide if it is in the patient’s best interest to allow another person to pick up a prescription, medical supplies, X-rays, or other similar forms of information for the patient.

Which medical organizations advise against caring for friends and family?

In fact, several medical organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise against caring for friends and family [10-12].

What are the barriers to access for a clinician?

Clinicians who become patients can also experience barriers to access, such as embarrassment, lack of time due to professional constraints, and minimization of symptoms due to clinical knowledge, which can affect the quality and timeliness of care [4].

What are ethical issues in medical management?

Ethical issues include respect for patient autonomy and social justice as well as nonmaleficence. Furthermore, interpersonal and professional relationships may be tested in this situation. Addressing the colleague’s concerns with empathy and respect, without compromising one’s own medical judgment, is critical in resolving these kinds of conflicts.

Is ordering a scan unethical?

Rose does not believe is appropriate), ordering a scan could be considered unethical.

What is the right to access health information?

In short: if you request it, your doctors must give you copies of your health information. This is known as the “Right of Access.”. You can learn more about your rights to view or obtain copies of your health information here: Individuals’ Right under HIPAA to Access their Health Information.

What is medical billing records?

clinical notes or lab results related to a person’s medical care) past, present, or future payments related to a person’s health care (e.g. billing records) In other words, this is information created by , or stored by, healthcare providers and insurers.

What is the purpose of HIPAA?

Overall, HIPAA is intended to balance a person’s right to privacy with the need for health providers to communicate with others, in order to properly care for a patient and act in the patient’s best interest. To read about the rule in more technical detail, see here: Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

What is the HIPAA law?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law passed in 1996. Among other things, HIPAA required the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a federal “Privacy Rule” for health providers and health plans, governing how these entities must protect the privacy of an individual’s medical information.

What is an older parent?

An older parent who starts to act in ways that are strange or worrisome, such as becoming paranoid or delusional. In these situations, family caregivers often find themselves grappling with issues related to the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Privacy Rule.

Is HIPAA hard to understand?

In fact, the American Bar Association includes “ Know your rights of access to health information” among its Ten Legal Tips for Caregivers. The detailed ins and outs of HIPAA can indeed be hard to fully understand.

Can a health provider disclose information to a patient?

Basically, this means that when health providers disclose health information to someone other than the patient, they can’t just disclose anything and everything about their patient’s health. Instead, they should only share on a “need to know” basis, and focus on what’s relevant and necessary.

How to promote comfort in terminally ill patients?

To promote comfort in the terminally ill client, the nurse should help the client to identify values or desired tasks and then help the client to conserve energy for those tasks. The nurse is discussing future treatments with a client who has a terminal illness.

Why is it important for a nurse to assess his/her own emotional well-being?

When caring for clients experiencing grief, it is important for the nurse to assess his/her own emotional well-being and to understand his/her own feelings about death. The nurse who is aware of his/her own feelings will be less likely to place personal situations and values before those of the client.

What is the benefit of anticipatory grief?

The benefit of anticipatory grief is that it allows time for the process of grief (i.e., to say good-bye and complete life affairs). Anticipatory grief allows time to grieve in private, to discuss the anticipated loss with others, and to "let go" of the loved one.

What does it mean when a hospice client is not eating?

when offered choices or information concerning him or her. The client's behavior of not eating also is an indicator of hopelessness. The nurse is aware that client care provided through a hospice is: A) Designed to meet the client's individual wishes, as much as possible.

How long should a nurse be in the dying process?

A patient has been in the dying process for about 10 days.

What influences how a person approaches death?

Culture, spirituality, personal beliefs and values, previous experiences with death, and degree of social support influence how a person approaches death. A patient is receiving palliative care for symptom management related to anxiety and pain. A family member asks if the patient is dying and now in "hospice.".

What does a family member grieve?

Family members often grieve the impending loss of companionship, control, and sense of freedom and the mental and physical changes to be experienced by their loved one. Ultimately they grieve the impending death. On entering a room the nurse sees the patient crying softly.

Why should a nurse not confront a medication nurse?

The nurse should not confront the person or the medication nurse because the line of authority for reporting incidents should be followed. The RT supervisor may subsequently be involved in the incident, but the nursing supervisor should initiate and follow the policy and procedure.".

Who is responsible for obtaining the client's informed consent?

notifying the physician involved with the procedure that the consent has not been signed. "The physician involved with the procedure is responsible for obtaining the client's informed consent. The primary nurse or the nurse working with the physician may witness the client's signature.

What does a nursing assistant do after a client stays in bed?

After the second day of staying in bed, the nurse assesses the client's vital signs and finds the blood pressure to be below the client's norm, and the nurse withholds the client's medications.

What is the HCP in witnessing consent?

A health care provider (HCP) is calling the pediatric unit and asking the nurse to go into the medical record for test results of a fellow pediatrician.

What does a nurse need to communicate to the family member?

The nurse needs to communicate to the family member and provide action related to the client's change.". The nurse is tracking data on a group of clients with heart failure who have been discharged from the hospital and are being followed at a clinic.

What is the responsibility of a nurse in a living will?

The nurse's responsibility at this time is to: "Living wills include instructions on when and how to implement their provisions, witness and testator requirements, immunity from liability for anyone following the directives, documentation requirements, and under what circumstances the living will takes effect.

What is the right to self-determination?

"The right to self-determination (autonomy) means that decision-making should never be forced on anyone. The client has the autonomous right to defer her decision making to another individual if she freely chooses to do so.".

Can a nurse discuss a patient's condition with the patient's brother?

A nurse may not discuss a patient’s condition with the patient’s brother after the patient has stated she does not want her family to know about her condition.

Can a health care provider share information with family?

Yes. If the patient is not present or is incapacitated, a health care provider may share the patient’s information with family, friends, or others as long as the health care provider determines, based on professional judgment, that it is in the best interest of the patient. When someone other than a friend or family member is involved, the health care provider must be reasonably sure that the patient asked the person to be involved in his or her care or payment for care. The health care provider may discuss only the information that the person involved needs to know about the patient’s care or payment.

Does HIPAA require proof of identity?

No. If the caller states that he or she is a family member or friend of the patient, or is involved in the patient’s care or payment for care, then HIPAA doesn’t require proof of identity in this case. However, a health care provider may establish his or her own rules for verifying who is on the phone. In addition, when someone other than a friend or family member is involved, the health care provider must be reasonably sure that the patient asked the person to be involved in his or her care or payment for care.

Can a health care provider share a patient's health information?

Yes. Where a health care provider is allowed to share a patient’s health information with a person, information may be shared face-to-face, over the phone, or in writing.

Can a healthcare provider pick up a prescription?

Yes. HIPAA allows health care providers to use professional judgment and experience to decide if it is in the patient’s best interest to allow another person to pick up a prescription, medical supplies, X-rays, or other similar forms of information for the patient.

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Case

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Dr. Rose, a family medicine practitioner, is seeing patients at her outpatient clinic. The nurse, Jack, hands her the chart saying, “Room two is ready. It’s Dr. Little; she brought in her son, Andrew.” Not having had time to look at the chart, Dr. Rose asks, “What was the chief complaint?” Jack responds, “Andrew has back pain.” After tak…
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Commentary

  • Dr. Rose finds herself in a tough situation, perhaps one that many clinicians find equally uncomfortable: a medically unwarranted request from a colleague. Certainly differences in opinion exist among professionals in any field, but, in health care, these differences seem to carry a heavier weight—particularly if the difference in opinion involves a potentially life-threatening di…
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Navigating Conflicts in The Treatment of Colleagues

  • In the above case study, there are a number of conflicts or issues that Dr. Rose must navigate in addition to balancing her role as the primary care physician of a colleague’s child. First and foremost is the clinical question of whether or not a particular test is warranted. This is a personal and professional conflict—something that all clinicians deal with on a daily basis, and somethin…
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What Are The Next Steps?

  • I would argue that Dr. Little is in no way being “difficult”: she is being a mother who is concerned and wants the best care possible for her child. As discussed, Dr. Little’s request may be driven by emotional cues—such as anxiety over a sick child, fear of a “rare thing” or undiscovered illness, or fear of the unknown. In this situation, the key is to explore Dr. Little’s and Andrew’s concerns wit…
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Conclusion

  • In this situation, Dr. Rose should not order further imaging because there is no clinical indication to do so. Instead, she should respond to Dr. Little’s emotional cues with empathy and explore the request for imaging both with Dr. Little and Andrew. Dr. Rose should stick with the original plan of conservative management with re-evaluation after several weeks. She might negotiate a “compr…
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