Ms. P arrives on a medical unit at a major medical center escorted by two armed police guards from the local jail. The social worker, Ann, asks about the reason for the guards and the length of time that they will be on the unit, but the officers tell her they can’t share this information.
Q: We are a doctor’s office in a small town. Recently, one of our patients threw away some papers containing PHI in a wastebasket in the waiting room. Another patient’s child later took them out of the wastebasket. The child’s parent brought the papers up to the desk and apologized. Is this a privacy breach? Are we responsible for the papers even though we turned them over to the patient?
This week’s Medicare updates include the April edition of the Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter, a new OIG compliance website providing resources for the public to use to ensure compliance, an updated OIG work plan, and more!
Creating and maintaining an ethical work culture is everyone's responsibility. Always set an example of respect, honesty, and fairness for your family, friends, and colleagues.
