CRONA
Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement
Area Representatives and Membership Meetings
March 3 and 5, 2009

New Patient Privacy Laws
Two new patient privacy laws took effect January 2009 in California. These laws increased patient privacy protections and added new requirements such as fines and penalties to hospitals and individuals.

SB 541 and AB 211 authorize the Department of Public Health to investigate unauthorized access and disclosure of patient information.

A new State office has been created to investigate and enforce privacy laws and assess penalties of $2,500.00 to $250,000.00 to individuals who violate patient privacy.

SHC and LPCH have a Compliance Department that monitors and audits employees to ensure that patient privacy laws and hospital policies are not violated.

In addition to penalties and fines, failure to follow state laws and hospital policies can result in disciplinary action including termination.

How to Avoid Breaking the Law
Only access patient information needed in order to do your job (“minimum necessary”).

Do not discuss patient information with the patient’s family except the designated spokesperson.

Do not discuss patient information with your co- workers who do not have a job-related need to know.

Do not speak to the Media. Refer them to the Media Relations Department (3-0876).

How to Protect Yourself
Always log out of your computer every time you are not able to give it your full attention and never share your password.

Do not access a patient’s record who is not assigned to you during your shift.

Do not have a conversation about a patient if you are not sure of the necessity.

If you are asked to attend an “interview” that is deemed to be information seeking only or “fact finding,” ask for a CRONA Representative. The hospital has used information nurses have provided as answers to innocently-sounding questions against them in later meetings. Your CRONA Representative can help illicit favorable facts or help clarify the issues as well as be an objective observer who can take notes that can be referenced later. The hospital may attempt to use the information you provide against you no matter how innocuous the meeting may be called.

Since January 1, 2009, eighteen (18) CRONA nurses (that CRONA is aware of) have been interviewed/investigated related to alleged violation of privacy laws and hospital policies.

Nurses are the most vulnerable employees affected by these laws and policies.

For additional information about the new privacy laws please contact Diane Meyer SHC/LPCH Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer at 723-2572. HIPAA and other confidentiality hospital policies are also available in the intranet and Healthstream.

Sunny Balson, Secretary
On behalf of the CRONA Executive Board

REMINDERS

TB Testing and N 95 Mask Fitting
Time spent in completing mandatory requirements such as TB testing and N 95 mask fitting is compensable. Please mark your time sheets accordingly. If overtime is to be incurred, inform your manager.

New Requirements for Registered Nurses
Disclosure of Convictions and Discipline
To renew a license that expires on or after March 1, 2009, the Board of Registered Nursing of California requires the licensee to disclose whether, since his or her last renewal, he or she has had any other licensed disciplined by a government agency or other disciplinary body, or has been convicted of any crime in the United States and its territories.

New Fingerprint Requirement
For a license that expires on or after March 1, 2009, an RN not previously fingerprinted by the Board of Registered Nurses is required to be fingerprinted by the California Department of Justice in order to renew the license. Fingerprinting by another agency or your employer is not sufficient to meet this requirement.

To obtain information regarding the submission of your fingerprint, log on to the BRN website at www.rn.ca.gov. Click on Licensees or Renewing.

Updating
Your Home Email Address
We communicate with our members on a regular basis. We want you to be knowledgeable and stay informed. If you have changed your home email address in the past year, please inform CRONA at crona@crona.org.

Your Telephone Number and Mailing Address
We use the telephone number and address listed with the hospital to contact you with important information and updates such as benefits, wages, policies, etc. Please use econnect to keep your telephone number and mailing address updated.

Thank You for Being a Part of CRONA!