HIPAA – Displaying thank you letters from patients

Written by Reed Tinsley | December 3, 2008

Many physician office display thank-you letters from patients or their families on a bulletin board or other type of display in a public area where visitors can read them. So is this a HIPAA violation? Is it a better practice to display this correspondence but de-identify the patient/family information? If you want to display thank-you letters from patients or their families in a public place, I believe the best course of action is to de-identify these items to protect the patients’ privacy. Otherwise, ask the patient or family for permission to post the letter publicly.

About the Author

Reed Tinsley CPA

This article is written by Reed Tinsley, a Houston, TX-based CPA with over 30 years of experience advising physicians and medical practices across Texas and the United States. Reed holds certifications as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified Healthcare Business Consultant (CHBC), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), specializing exclusively in the healthcare sector. He is a published author, nationally recognized speaker, and trusted advisor to physicians on accounting & tax, practice management, and financial planning. Schedule a Free Consultation.

Have questions? I’m here to help.

Categories
Accounting and Tax Services Litigation Support Managed Care Consulting Managed Care Contract Negotiations Medical Practice and Healthcare Entity Valuation Medical Practice Assessment Medical Practice Brokerage Medical Practice Embezzlement Consulting Medical Practice Management Medical Practice Merger Advice Medical Strategic Planning Newsletter Personal Financial Planning Oversight Physician Compensation Models Physician Compliance Physician Financial Management Services Retirement Uncategorized