While working at a clinica student is reviewing labs. She reviews a pregnancy test for one of her friends and notes the pregnancy test is positive. Later, the student calls her friend and congratulates her on her pregnancy. This action is a violation of HIPAA policy?
Yes, this action is a violation of HIPAA policy. The student is not authorized to access her friend's medical records, including the pregnancy test results, without proper authorization and permission. The student should have informed her friend to discuss the results with her healthcare provider.
No, this action is not a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) policy. HIPAA protects the privacy of individuals' health information and sets guidelines for how healthcare providers and organizations handle and share this information. In this case, the student is reviewing the lab results as part of her work at the clinic, and she is calling her friend separately to congratulate her. However, it's important to note that the student should still exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality in discussing any patient information outside of the clinic or with individuals who are not directly involved in the patient's care.
