When The Press Drops In: The Risks of Violating HIPAA

As employees in the healthcare system, we have all been informed about HIPAA and the consequences of violating a patient’s privacy.  But what really would happen if we disregarded patient confidentiality? Well, a local hospital recently learned how serious an infraction it is to ignore this important federal law.

Earlier this month, Hollywood celebrity George Clooney and a companion were rushed to Palisades Medical Center after they were involved in a motorcycle accident.  Almost immediately, the media descended upon the hospital with knowledge not only of the actor’s presence but also the nature of his injuries. It quickly became apparent that several hospital employees leaked that information to the press and provided confidential information to the media.

This clear violation of patient privacy led to over two dozen employees being suspended and up to 40 others being investigated for inappropriate actions.  The violation even garnered local media attention when it was covered by WCBS – Channel 2 – New York.

As a network that offers a wide range of advanced, life-saving services, we often treat patients whose injuries receive media attention.  The price paid by our fellow healthcare workers is a reminder on not only the importance of maintaining patient confidentiality at all times but also understanding the network’s policy of referring all press inquires to the Public Affairs Department.