Health Information Management

Ask the expert: When our hospital treats inmates from the local jail, may we provide information to jail officials if the patient is in custody?

HIM Connection, August 26, 2008

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A: Yes. You may provide patient information without the patient’s authorization if the information is necessary for:

  •  The ongoing treatment of the patient
  • The health and safety of the patient, other inmates, officers or employees of the correctional institution, or those transporting the inmate
  • Law enforcement personnel on the premises of the correctional institution
  • Maintenance of the safety or security of the correctional institution

Editor’s note: This Q&A was excerpted from HCPro’s The Privacy Officer’s Handbook. For more information or to purchase a copy, visit www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-5835.html.



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