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HIPAA—KEEPING INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVATE!
By Debbie Moore
We try our best to give residents the highest quality healthcare. As part of the promise to care for them, we are obligated to keep information about their health private. We have designed our facilities to be as home-like as possible and we provide activities and routines in a comfortable, casual setting. As caregivers, we often have friendly, casual conversations with residents, families, and fellow team members; but always remember--do not communicate personal health information about residents that others do not have a right to know.
What is confidential?
Remember that all information about residents is considered private or “confidential,” whether written on paper, faxed, saved on a computer, or spoken aloud. This includes their name, address, age, Social Security number, and any other personal information. It also includes the reason the resident is sick or living at the nursing facility, the treatments and medications he/she receives, caregiver’s notes, and information about past health conditions.
If you reveal any of this information to someone who does not need to know it, you have violated a resident’s confidentiality, and you have broken the law.
Do you need to know?
Most of HIPAA is common sense. Just follow the simple “need to know” rule. If you need to see resident information to perform your job---as doctors, nurses, STNAs, and billing clerks do---you are allowed to do so.
But even doctors and nurses don’t have the right to look at all the information about every resident. For example, a doctor caring for one resident has no right to look at the medical record of other residents unless that doctor is helping to care for them too.
Before you look at resident information, ask yourself, “Do I need to know this to do my job?” If the answer is no, don’t look. If the answer is yes, look at only the information you need, and Do Not share it with anyone.
Do your part in protecting the residents’ privacy and confidentiality. Only access what you need to know to do your job and do not share with others who do not have a right to know.
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I couldn’t help overhearing...
Not all information is locked up in a file room or protected by passwords in a computer. There’s no doubt that you will overhear private health information as you do your day-to-day work. As long as you keep it to yourself, you have nothing to worry about.
Protect resident privacy:
- Close resident room doors when discussing treatments and administering procedures.
- Close curtains and speak softly in semi-private rooms when discussing treatments and administering procedures.
- Avoid discussions about residents in the hallways, in other residents’ rooms, in the elevator or break room.
- Do not leave messages on answering machines regarding resident conditions or test results.
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| Poem from a resident...
Oh Lord it’s me again
I'm hurt as well you know
I need some one to help me
Please tell me where to go
God said I hear your cry child
And in answer to your prayer
I'll send you to Eastgatespring
I know they'll help you there
Be patient and just trust me
And soon I'm sure you'll see
That you'll be in a special place
I choose for you to be
And I will be there with you
For you're still in my plans
And I often mend and comfort
Using helpful human hand
Inspired by kind and thoughtful care...composed by Wesa Knoechel
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NEAT Way of Weight Loss
 by Cathy Hamblen
Mayo Clinic researchers have looked into the link between inactivity and obesity. NEAT stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis or energy used for everything except eating, sleeping or sports-like activities. These activities include pacing, toe-tapping, fidgeting or standing. So to reap the benefits of neat – sit less and move more in addition to your regular activity program. Easy things to be not be extreme: pace when talking on the phone, wash your car by hand (you that is), do your own yard work and home repairs, tap your toes when sitting, and get up often and move around from your desk. Small changes can be big rewards.
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 Apple, Pear, and Cheddar Salad with Pecans
by Jim Gehler
1 cup apple juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground balk pepper
10 cups gourmet salad greens (about 10 ounces)
1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
1 medium McIntosh apple, cored and cut into 18 wedges
1 medium Bartlett pear, cored and cut into 18 wedges
¼ cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted
Place apple juice in a small saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until reduced to about 3 tablespoons (about 10 minutes). Combine reduced apple juice, vinegar, oil, salt and pepper, stirring with a whisk.
Combine greens, grapes, apple, and pear in a large bowl. Drizzle with apple juice mixture; toss gently to coat. Spring with cheese and nuts. |
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 Taking Your Meds
by Dr. Art Gendelman
Are you taking your medications correctly?
It is not only important to take the correct medication, but it is just as important to take it at the correct time. The most recent study concerning statins clarifies the recommendation to take the statin at night especially if you are taking Zocar or Pravacol. If you are taking Lipitor it probably doesn’t matter when you take it. So if you are prescribed a statin, take it at night and get your LDL below 100. It is good for you heart.
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 IT Tips
by Craig Ray
Double-click Column Widening
Microsoft Excel (as well as Windows Explorer) lets you double-click on the divider bar between any two columns so that you can widen it automatically to fit the widest entry.  For example, if you need to widen column C because one of the file names is too long to read, all you do is move the mouse so that it's over the divider between the headers for column C and column D - the mouse pointer changes to a double-headed arrow when you do this. Then when you double-click, column C is automatically widened.
Quick Launch
The Quick Launch bar is a small list of shortcuts to your favorite programs or websites. You can use it to quickly open programs or websites with a single click and completely bypass the Start Menu. The Quick Launch bar is typically located just to the right of your Start button. If it isn't there, you can turn it back on by right-clicking on the taskbar, click Toolbars, and then click Quick Launch. You can drag any icon directly to the Quick Launch bar to add it to that list.
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 The Angry Caller
by Debbie Berling
Complaining callers deserve special treatment!!!!!
Have you ever been upset over something and called to complain? I don’t know of anyone who has not complained at some point. You know that if you call to complain and the person you get a hold of wants to pass you on/transfer you, not give you their name and so on , you get no where and only angrier.
 The following tips can help you when you receive an angry caller or if a customer should approach you with anger:
- Promptly respond.
- Give the person your name. Once you give your name they will feel they have a real person to talk to.
- Get them to a person that can help them if it is not yourself.
- Listen
- Do not put them on hold and do not transfer them if you can help it. If you have to transfer, get their name and number first in case they get lost or cut off.
- Listen, take notes and ensure the right person is given the message.
- If you are the person calling them back, make sure you and your voice is comfortable.
- Don’t be defensive.
- Make sure that when you call back that you have a list of points that you want to give. Focus on a solution.
Keep it simple, be nice, timely and courteous and remember that it could be you trying to get answers. Kindness works. |
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 Could You Be at Risk for Diabetes?
By Beth Lind, R.D., L.D.
Diabetes is a silent disease. You can have it for years and not know it. During this time, harm to your eyes, nerves, kidneys and heart can happen.
Who’s at Risk for Diabetes?
Your risk for diabetes goes up as you get older, gain weight, or if you do not stay active. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Risk factors for diabetes include:
- Having high blood pressure (at or above 140/90)
- Having a family history of diabetes
- Having diabetes during pregnancy or having a baby weighing more then nine pounds at birth
Don’t Wait for Signs
Most people with diabetes do not notice any symptoms. However, if you have any of these symptoms, contact your health care provider.
- Being very thirsty
- Urinating often
- Losing weight without trying
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes means that your blood glucose is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because the body needs glucose for energy to keep you going. But too much glucose in the blood is not good for your health.
What Can You Do?
You can do things now to lower your risk for diabetes by:
- Losing weight if needed
- Being active most days of the week
- Eating low fat meals that include vegetables, fruits, and whole grain foods
For more information: contact the American Diabetes Association:
1-800-DIABETES
www.diabetes.org |
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