Grace under pressure, part 2: Safeguarding patient privacy in the Emergency Department
(SACRAMENTO)
In the fast-paced and high-stakes environment of emergency medicine, our dedicated workforce rises to the daily challenge of helping patients. Working in the Emergency Department requires clinical expertise, extraordinary resilience, compassion, and the ability to remain composed under pressure when responding to critical trauma cases and managing unpredictable patient volumes. This dynamic environment also increases the risk of privacy events occurring.
In the spirit of continuous improvement, here are two more examples from several hospitals shared as friendly and essential reminders to stay vigilant about maintaining the privacy and security of patient information.
Improper Access to Electronic Records
An electronic health record (EHR) monitoring tool identified an instance where a hospital employee accessed a patient's electronic medical record (EMR) without a clear work-related reason. The patient was later confirmed to be a relative of the team member. In accordance with policy, the employee’s supervisor was informed, and appropriate corrective measures were taken.
Recommended Preventive Action: Access to patient EMRs must only occur for a legitimate work-related purpose. Unauthorized access, even without malice, can compromise patient trust and violate privacy regulations and UCDH policy.
EMR Chart Corrections
A patient was mistakenly registered under another individual's electronic medical record (EMR). Fortunately, the error was quickly detected and corrected with support from the medical records team. Because the issue was promptly reported and resolved, no unauthorized access or release of information (ROI) occurred. This type of event is classified as a “near-miss.”
Recommended Preventive Action: Accurate patient identification is crucial for maintaining data integrity and safeguarding patient privacy. Even minor errors can lead to significant consequences if not promptly reported and addressed.
Always verify patient identifiers before documenting or updating records.
If you notice any discrepancies, report them immediately to the IT Help Desk or HIM so they can be corrected before impacting patient care or privacy.
Of course, mistakes can happen. Please continue to be vigilant about patient information, properly dispose of paper containing patient information, and report any incidents you discover. Thank you for all you do to support UC Davis Health.
