Confidentiality and Privacy
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HPHP provides confidential assistance to healthcare professionals with conditions that may negatively impact practice performance. Referrals to HPHP protect the well-being of healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.
One of the reasons Physician Health Programs (PHPs) were developed was to provide confidentiality for healthcare professionals with stigmatized health conditions. Healthcare professionals are more likely to seek assistance if they believe their information will be kept confidential. Under these circumstances, they can participate in the PHP without involvement of state medical boards. Strong confidentiality protections encourage early intervention in the illness process before impairment occurs and when the prognosis for full recovery is most favorable. Confidential participation in HPHP begins at the initial assessment, following completion of a thorough informed consent procedure. Existing state and federal laws allow HPHP to protect the identity of participants andreferent (s) when they follow HPHP recommendations and do not pose a risk to themselves or their patients. In the vast majority of cases, HPHP participants’ identities, circumstances and participation remain confidential and do not involve disclosure to the applicable state regulatory entity. Most HPHP participants known to their regulator were involved prior to referral to HPHP. A small minority forfeit program confidentiality when risk of unsafe practice or program non-compliance require HPHP to notify the regulatory entity. CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS At Pu’ulu Lapa’au, confidentiality is of utmost importance to our healthcare professionals. We are committed to ensure privacy of all information we collect on our healthcare providers. Pu’ulu Lapa’au secures our records and information with the highest confidential standards as required by 42 CFR, Part 2 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We are an independent organization, with no direct relationship to any regulatory agency. Thus no information on any current or past professional will be divulged to any third-party without written consent. HPHP’s commitment to confidentiality and privacy is unwavering. That said, there are important practical and legal limitations to confidentiality that should be considered. HPHP participants may be asked to provide consent for HPHP to communicate with evaluation and treatment providers, key supports, or concerned others as a condition of program participation. Such communications are critical for HPHP to effectively carry out its mission and support the health and advocacy needs of program participants. HPHP makes every effort to limit disclosures to their intended purpose. For example, communications with health care providers would likely include protected health information, while verification of health status and safety to practice for employment or credentialing purposes would not. Danger to self or others, abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, and medical emergencies are examples in which HPHP may have a legal reporting obligation that supersedes a participant’s confidentiality protections. HPHP understands how important it is for prospective and current participants to have confidence that their health information will remain private and protected, and that seeking help will not harm them personally or professionally. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about program confidentiality. |
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