Froedtert Hospital is committed to providing health care services consistent with the very highest standards of ethics and integrity. Each staff member, volunteer, student, business associate, and physician has a personal obligation to uphold our Organizational Code of Ethics. Complying with federal and state regulations is essential and demonstrates good business practice. The privacy and protection of our patients’ confidential medical information demonstrates to our patients and the community our commitment to their most basic rights and fosters a sense of trust. Without that trust, we cannot deliver the excellent patient-centered care to which we are dedicated
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was created to ensure patients’ healthcare information remains confidential. This law tells us how, when, and to whom we can share patients’ healthcare information. The HIPAA privacy regulations were effective April 14, 2003. Patients now have the rights to:
- Request access to their protected health information (PHI)
- Request an amendment or correction to their PHI
- Request the restriction or limit the use of their PHI
- Refuse to be contacted for fund-raising activities
- Request to keep their name off of the patient directory
Protecting Protected Health Information
The staff at Froedtert are all personally responsible for respecting and protecting the privacy rights of our patients. This means not sharing patient information with anyone who should not have access to that information. Only those involved in the care and treatment of a patient are allowed access to that patient’s medical record. These individuals include physicians, nurses, therapists, lab personnel, admitting staff, etc. or whomever the patient authorizes as their personal representative.
HIPAA Privacy Officer
Although compliance with the HIPAA regulations is the responsibility of each and every staff member, Froedtert has a designated HIPAA privacy officer who is responsible for developing, coordinating, monitoring, and facilitating the hospital’s compliance with federal and state laws that affect our information privacy practices. Concerns from patients, visitors, volunteers and others may also be forwarded to the privacy officer through our hot line at 414-259-0220.