PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY

On inpatient neurology placement I treated a lady who had been in hospital for 6 weeks following myelinopathy secondary to substance abuse. The pt responded well to treatment and this was her last PT treatment. The aim was to continue with her exercises and put into place any community services the patient requires.

While conversing the pt voiced her wishes of maintaining confidentiality of her diagnosis. I reassured her of patient confidentiality and continued physio, paying close attention not to discuss any information with the pt outside her room or with other PTs on the ward and physio gym. The pt's exercises were progressed and the patient was referred for community physio. I informed the patient I would return in the afternoon with her referral.

I filled out her referral diagnosing her condition as a “myelinopathy secondary to substance use” consistent with the neurology team. On returning to the patients room there was a visitor. I subsequently gained consent to enter and start physio and gave her the referral, to sign for consent. She read the form, and asked her visitor if she could leave the room. Following the visitor exiting the room the pt expressed her disappointment on my part of for writing on the referral her diagnosis and anxiety as to whether the diagnosis form had been seen by her visitor. I reassured the patient that the form was standard protocol for referrals and that all staff working in the outpatient physio also maintain patient confidentiality.

FOLLOWING TREATING THIS PATIENT, IT HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY. THE PATIENT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WANT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY FINDING OUT ABOUT HER CONDITION. I REASSURED THE PT THE CONFIDENTIALIY IS MAINTAINED IN ALL HEALTH SETTINGS NOT JUST IN HOSPITALS. IF I WERE TO TREAT A PATIENT WITH SIMILAR CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO CONFIDENTILAITY I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ENSURE ALL VISITORS WERE EXCUSED FROM THE ROOM, CONDUCT THE PT SESSION IN A PRIVATE ROOM OR EMPTY GYM, AND TO TAKE THE TIME TO EXPLAIN THE REFERRAL PROCESS AND FORM TO THE PT TO RELIEVE THE PT OF THEIR CONCERNS.