What does Patient Confidentiality Entail?

[xClashx]

Worked in a hospital for 2 years, wanted to talk about a patient in my application. Would it breach confidentiality if I discussed about what they had without using their name?

[Birdy]

So long as there's no identifying information (to which I'd include very rare disorders), probably not. That said, I wouldn't do it myself. If there's the question of a possible whiff of an infringement on their privacy, best to avoid it.

 

That said, I know of people who have been immediately terminated and walked out of work by security guards for breaches of privacy policies at my job so I do tend to take it very, very seriously.

[rmorelan]

So long as there's no identifying information (to which I'd include very rare disorders), probably not. That said, I wouldn't do it myself. If there's the question of a possible whiff of an infringement on their privacy, best to avoid it.

 

That said, I know of people who have been immediately terminated and walked out of work by security guards for breaches of privacy policies at my job so I do tend to take it very, very seriously.

 

that just happened again at ottawa - very serious.

 

You do have to be so very careful with this sort of thing. Nothing that can possible used to trace back to the patient can be used. If you do this you should be very vague on anything that could be used for such a purpose.

[doktor]

If the experience was really meaningful and you want to include it, I would. However, you do want to be respectful of confidentiality so I would avoid any details. I would just be very vague and generalized. Something like:

 

"During a clinical experience, I was able to provide emotional support for a patient during a difficult time. This showed me how health professionals are relied upon for more than theoretical skills..."

 

Obviously your situation may be different specifics wise, but that's just a generalized example.

 

Instead of highlighting the details of the situation with the patient, highlight what you learned from it. That will be more conducive to the essay/statement as adcoms really want to see what you got out of any experiences you have and will leave you free of any confidentiality worries!

[xClashx]

I decided to leave it out and talk about another experience.

 

Don't want to cause any problems. xD

[Sit]

Would something like "In my volunteer experiences at X hospital, I had to deal with many patients with dietary restrictions" be considered a breach...? That was all I said about the patients and I went on to explain how I have resolved issues where I had to deny a patient food that they wanted.

[BTJJ]

It is tricky. A sure solution is always to obtain the patient's written consent. If the patient appreciated your intervention and efforts and believes you would be a good physician, I would think many of them would be pleased to consent.

[Leon]

I decided to leave it out and talk about another experience.

 

Don't want to cause any problems. xD

 

Good idea. I would say it's too risky. The level of training we get with respect to privacy is insane. I sat through countless presentations and online modules when I got a summer job at a hospital. They take this very seriously, given the media reaction to the slightest leak.

[rmorelan]

Here is some background about my home hospital and privacy

 

http://michaelpower.ca/2011/02/to-fine-or-not-to-fine/

 

for 2 prior (and now 3 with the newly breach) - the hospital is not happy at all. Hard NOT to fine them if anything else happens and we are definitely tracked closely.

 

Violating privacy is a great way to get fired.

 

Also you have to be careful saying "I denied a patient something they wanted" as patients have the right to do things that we feel is not in their best interests very often. We don't get to tell them what to eat but we do get to explain why it would be a very bad idea. Fine difference at times and often I am sure the line is pushed but really a hospital is not a prison