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FAQ 199 May physician's offices use patient sign-in sheets or call out the names of their patients in their waiting rooms?

This guidance explains that covered entities are permitted to use sign-in sheets or call out patients' names in the waiting rooms so long as the information disclosed is appropriately limited.

Final

Issued by: Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

May physician's offices use patient sign-in sheets or call out the names of their patients in their waiting rooms?

Answer

Yes. Covered entities, such as physician’s offices, may use patient sign-in sheets or call out patient names in waiting rooms, so long as the information disclosed is appropriately limited. The HIPAA Privacy Rule explicitly permits the incidental disclosures that may result from this practice, for example, when other patients in a waiting room hear the identity of the person whose name is called, or see other patient names on a sign-in sheet. However, these incidental disclosures are permitted only when the covered entity has implemented reasonable safeguards and the minimum necessary standard, where appropriate. For example, the sign-in sheet may not display medical information that is not necessary for the purpose of signing in (e.g., the medical problem for which the patient is seeing the physician). See 45 CFR 164.502(a)(1)(iii).

 

 

Date Created: 12/19/2002
Last Updated: 03/14/2006

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