Q: A dentist's office uses self-registration for its patients. A list of the patients scheduled for the day is on a computer, and upon arrival, patients find and highlight their names to check in. Is it a HIPAA violation to use the list of names for all to see?
HIPAA Weekly Advisor, September 17, 2007
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A: Yes. This practice does not meet HIPAA's "minimum necessary" requirement, so having a list of the day's patients available for public viewing is a HIPAA violation. A better approach would be to have each patient check in with the receptionist or complete a short form that includes the patient's name, as well as the date and the time of arrival.
Editor's note: Mary Brandt, president of Bellaire, TX-based Brandt & Associates, LLC, answered this question. This is not legal advice. Consult your attorney for legal matters.
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