Employee Privacy

POLICY STATEMENT

The company is committed to ensuring the disclosure or use of confidential information does not take place among employees, outside vendors or individuals unless there is a legitimate need-to-know basis

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for employee confidentiality of patient medical information, employee information, general business information, and to ensure that the most current information is available to all staff members/facilities.

Patient Medical Information

All medical information, whether verbal, written or electronically stored, concerning a patient is confidential and shall not be disclosed to anyone other than that allowable by HIPAA for treatment, payment or healthcare operations unless specific authorization if obtained. Unless a notice is provided by the patient to the contrary, it is presumed that the patient has consented to the release of patient medical information to healthcare providers who are currently providing treatment.

Employees may not view, attempt to view, copy or make notations in patient records unless doing so is a necessary part of their job. Seeking medical information concerning a patient when doing so is not part of your job is forbidden. Employees caught violating this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including immediate termination of employment. Further, to the extent that such violation causes the Company to incur legal liability or expenses, the Company will seek to recover such damages and expenses from the offending employee.

Employee Information

The Company expects its employees to act as professionals and to respect each other’s privacy. Employees may not disclose another employee’s confidential information, be it medical or personal, without that person’s permission. Further, employees may not access other employee’s personnel information unless doing so is a recognized part of their job, such as Human Resources or Benefits. Employees caught violating this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including immediate termination of employment. Further, to the extent that such violation causes the Company to incur legal liability or expenses, the Company will seek to recover such damages and expenses from the offending employee.

General Business Information

As with your own personal information, employees may not disclose confidential information regarding the Company to any other person or entity, regardless of whether or not they are employed by the Company, unless they have a work-related need-to-know. This information would include information that is not available to the general public. Examples of such information include but are not limited to: the financial condition of the Company, when a new location will open or an existing location will close, which companies the organization buys supplies from and how much is paid for those supplies.

Miscellaneous

No conversations or discussions of confidential information shall take place in areas that are accessible to visitors, patients, or other employees who are not authorized to hear the information which is being discussed. Every new hire, at the time of orientation, shall be informed of this

policy and shall sign a statement confirming that they have read and understand our policy. Additionally, all employees will review this policy during the annual employee e valuation process. Managers share the responsibility and accountability for the implementation and enforcement of this policy. A violation of this policy will be cause for immediate disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Administrative staff shares the responsibility and accountability for education, implementation and enforcement of this policy.

A violation of this policy will be cause for immediate disciplinary action up to and including termination.