Confidentiality of Patient and Client Health Information
The following guidelines for maintaining the confidentiality of patient/client information are applicable to all courses in the Elon DPTE.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The information regarding patients/clients gathered and shared in class is subject to confidentiality regulations as described in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). By participating in this program, you agree to abide by these regulations. As a part of this confidentiality policy, the following guidelines will apply to your conduct during each course:
1. The information obtained will be used only for educational purposes by the faculty and students in the DPTE programs.
2. The information obtained will be discussed only in the educational settings of the DPTE, which consist primarily of skills laboratories, designated classrooms, individual faculty offices, and the DPTE conference room.
3. Students should not discuss a patient’s records in a manner or a situation which would reveal any information about that patient or patient records to people not involved in their healthcare. For example, personal health information regarding patients/clients will not be discussed in non-secure areas of the Elon University campus such as computer laboratories, restrooms, lounges, cafeterias, and like areas on campus.
4. Discussion of personal health information regarding patients/clients off campus will be limited to meeting the expressed purposes of course objectives and will not be carried out in any public area such as restaurants, lounges, or walkways.
5. When information is discussed as a part of the educational experience, every effort will be made to limit identifying information, especially the patient/client's name. However, other information such as age and work environment may be necessary for full discussion of the clinical presentation and recommendations.
6. Charts or contents, e.g., lab reports, etc., are not to be removed from the hospital or clinical setting.
Consent Forms (see Appendix M) – Consent forms are available in the DPTE for the following purposes:
1. Obtaining visual images of a patient, client, or volunteer for educational and/or research purposes. Signed consent forms are required for any video image that is obtained from patients, clients, or volunteers interacting with students and/or faculty in the DPTE.
2. Use of pictures of DPT students for educational and/or publicity purposes. DPT students will be asked to sign this form early in the curriculum.