Patient Safety

The duty of patient confidentiality goes beyond undertaking not to divulge confidential information; it includes a responsibility to make sure that written patient information, medical records and or waivers are kept securely.

At St. Luke's, protecting the privacy and patient and co-workers confidentiality begin among hospital associates. It is everyone's responsibility to respect and maintain the confidentiality of patients, physicians, employees, visitors and volunteers and its business information. A Confidentiality Agreement is being signed by associates in order to fully recognize the Patient Confidentiality program and in strict compliance with all applicable laws.

We believe that confidential records should not be left where unauthorized people may have casual access to them and information about patients should be sent under private and confidential cover, with appropriate measures to ensure that it does not go astray. Engaging in public discussion about a certain patient, employee, medical staff and business information that is regarded confidential is also strongly discouraged.

Confidential Patient Information includes: Any information, identified to a particular individual, in possession or derived from a provider of health care regarding a patient's medical history, mental, or physical condition or treatment, as well as the patients' and / or their family members' records, test results, conversations, research records and financial information.

Examples include, but are not limited to :

Physical medical and psychiatric records including paper, photo, video, diagnostic and therapeutic reports

Laboratory and pathology samples

Patient insurance and billing records

Electronic or computerized patient data and alphanumeric messages;

Visual observation of patients receiving medical care or accessing services; and

Verbal information provided by or about a patient