The following case study (Rinehart-Thompson) at hypothetical St. John Hospital illustrates numerous issues that the HIPAA privacy rule presents and which HIPAA-covered entities must address on a daily basis.

The following case study (Rinehart-Thompson) at hypothetical St. John Hospital illustrates numerous issues that the HIPAA privacy rule presents and which HIPAA-covered entities must address on a daily basis. As you conclude chapter 10, use this case study to identify the issue(s) presented on each date, determining how each situation should be handled in order to comply with the HIPAA privacy rule.

Background: From May 26-30, Mary Jones was hospitalized in St. John Hospital, located in Johnson County, for Type 1 diabetes and a possible drug overdose. She had a previous above-knee amputation of the right leg, with prosthesis.

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On July 18, Ms. Jones contacted the HIM department at St. John Hospital to request a copy of her medical records from her May hospital admission. The chart was copied for her by ReadyChart, the record-copying service utilized by St. John Hospital.

On October 5, St. John Hospital received a call from Mercy Hospital. Ms. Jones was in the emergency department there with a severe infection of her prosthetic site. The nurse in the Mercy Hospital emergency department asked for faxed copies of medical records from Ms. Jones’ September admission at St. John, as she was being prepared for immediate surgery.

On October 15, Ms. Jones called St. John Hospital’s HIM department and asked that her medical records from her May St. John Hospital admission be mailed to Dr. Lyon, as she has an appointment scheduled with him on November 15. Ms. Jones stated that she had also changed jobs in September, and her new health insurer was Liberty Life and Health.

On November 10, Ms. Jones received a brochure and samples from Comfort Healthcare, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures ointment for patients with prostheses. Ms. Jones called the St. John Hospital registration desk to complain. Jessica Carter, a volunteer, took Ms. Jones’ call.

On November 29, Liberty Life and Health submitted a request to Dr. Lyon’s office for copies of Ms. Jones’ medical records from her May St. John Hospital admission and from Dr. Lyon’s office.

On November 30, a case worker from the Johnson County Children’s Services called the HIM department at St. John and requested Ms. Jones’ medical records from her May hospitalization. Children’s services had received a complaint that Ms. Jones had an “episode” on May 26 and there was concern that her children were being subjected to ongoing abuse. As a result, it was initiating an investigation.

On December 2, Dr. King, an orthopedic surgeon, presented a seminar to the state association of orthopedic surgeons on above-knee amputation techniques. He had performed this procedure on Ms. Jones one year ago, and he showed slides that compared her condition before the procedure, immediately after, six months later, and one year later.

Based on the HIPAA privacy rule issues discussed in chapter 10, identify the issue or issues presented on each date in the above case study.