Reasonable Safeguards

Reasonable safeguards for preventing incidental disclosures could include keeping patient information to a minimum on your end of the call while talking with a patient on the phone. Ask them questions that identify themselves and only repeat partial bits of information back to the patient to verify. Reduce unnecessary incidental disclosures during your check-in process by eliminating paper and discussing in a low voice. Ask for identification, do not discuss patient information in public areas and at minimum, when at the front desk with the patients in the waiting area, and keep your voices low when discussing patient issues, as well as consider using screen filters and positioning your workstations away from the patient.