Page 129 - SU Catalog 2017_18

128 Southern Union State Community College Southern Union State Community College 129
POLICIES FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES DIVISION
CONFIDENTIALITY/ HIPAA
In addition to complying with all College policies, students enrolled in programs of All patient/client information is confidential. Protecting patient confidentiality is the
study in the Health Sciences Division must have knowledge of and adhere to the fol- law. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 came into
lowing policies. effect in April 2003. Noncompliance can result in monetary, civil and criminal penalties.
HEALTH
Student Clinical Health Requirements Southern Union State Community College Health Sciences division takes HIPAA vio-
lations very seriously. In order to help preserve patient confidentiality, levels of HIPAA
Students accepted into a health sciences program are required to provide proof of individ- violations have been developed and will be strictly enforced for every student that is
ual health care requirements. Clinical agencies mandate that students provide documen- enrolled in Health Sciences courses at Southern Union. This policy consists of 3 levels of
tation that they have updated immunizations for communicable diseases such as measles, violations with repercussions outlined in each level.
mumps and rubella (MMR x2) tetanus with diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap), Hepatitis
B, flu and chicken pox. If the students do not have the current immunizations, then they Records of student violations of the SUSCC Confidentiality/ HIPAA policy will be main-
must have blood drawn for a titer to assess immunity. Clinical agencies also require that tained in the student’s file.
students complete a physical examination and document that they can meet essential
functions of the program. Additionally, agencies require proof that criminal background LEVEL 1:
checks and drug screens have been completed and cleared by the agency before a student Constitutes an act of negligence.
may begin clinical rotations. Drug screens are completed during the first semester and
randomly while the student is in the program. Additional requirements include an annual Examples of a level one violation include but are not limited to:
TB Skin Test and current CPR at the American Heart Association Health Care Provider
level. These requirements fulfill contractual obligations for students to be eligible for • Leaving patient information unattended.
clinical rotations. Student clinical requirements may change during their tenure in the • Turning in assignments with a patients name attached.
program depending on the health care agency policies and contractual requirements. Doc- • Sharing passwords with other classmates.
umentation for all clinical requirements must be on file in the Health Sciences building • Not signing off of a computer in the clinical setting.
before the student will be cleared to register for health science courses. Students receive • Not password protecting any personal device that is used to record
directions for completing the clinical documents during orientation to the individual pro- patient information.
gram or can be found on the Health Sciences section of the website.
The Level 1 violation will result in a student being given a reprimand (STA,
Clinical Progression Requirements Clinical unsatisfactory etc.) and counseling by instructor. A Level one
Clinical requirement must be kept current throughout the student’s tenure in the violation carries over to subsequent semesters.
program. The documentation will be reviewed initially upon entrance to the program and
prior to each semester until program completion. Students may not progress through the LEVEL 2:
program if the required clinical documents are not updated and submitted by scheduled Repeat violation of a level one incident within the same semester or
deadlines. Clinical documents such as TB Skin Test must not expire during the semester. subsequent semester in a Heath Science program (does not have to be the
same incident) will result in a level two violation.
NOTE: Clinical requirements are subject to change during the year as required by
contractual obligations with clinical agencies. Intentional violation of the SUSCC Confidentiality/ HIPAA policy.

HIPAA – HEALTH INSURANCE Examples of a level 2 violation include but are not limited to:
PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996 Division Health Science
• Unauthorized access to patient records.
Title II of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 requires the • The discussing of Patient’s, Patient’s family and or visitors’ information
protection of all individually identifiable health information. This protected health infor- with others not involved in the patient’s care
mation must be kept confidential whether electronic, paper, or oral. In order to satisfy • Discussing Patient, Patient’s family and or visitors’ information on
HIPAA compliance the Southern Union State Community College Health Sciences Pro- social media sites
grams requires all PDAs (iPod Touch) to be password protected, and all information to be • Discussing of Patient’s, Patient’s family and or visitor’s information
de-identified. Due to the seriousness of this policy HIPAA violations will be considered a where as others not involved in the direct care of the patient
severe offense and therefore the consequences will be severe. may overhear your conversation.