Resident and Fellow Policy ManualConfidentiality (See SMH Policies 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, and 6.8):Access to confidential patient information must be limited to a clinical or business need to know. Under no circumstances is an employee permitted to access or view information on family members, friends or other acquaintances unless such access is required by the employee’s job responsibilities. Staff are not permitted to access or view their own medical information (other than through the established process of contacting the Health Information Management Department). Physicians are exempt from the stipulation of accessing their own personal information, however, this applies only to the physician’s data and is exclusive of any other patient records. No patient, including physicians, may request that co-workers access their medical records for them, other than when a care provision relationship already exists between the two parties. Additionally, records of patients with HIV, mental health treatment and drug or alcohol counseling are equally sensitive and confidential. Improper disclosure of information from these records may result in criminal penalties including a fine or jail sentence, in additional to disciplinary actions. User IDs and passwords are never to be shared and access of patient information by users to clinical systems may be audited for appropriateness. Any improper access or disclosure of confidential patient information may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination and/or removal from the residency program.
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