Skip to main content
On Demand

Communicating with Patients' Family and Friends (ETHICS)


Total Credits: 1 including 1 AOA Category 1-A Credit(s), 1 Ethics/ Risk Management Credit

Average Rating:
   38
State Associations:
TOMA - Texas
Faculty:
Charles Kels, JD
Duration:
1 Hour
Expiration:
Never Expires.


Description

Family and friends play an integral role in patient care, but restrictive privacy laws are often cited as a barrier to information-sharing. This session seeks to dispel myths surrounding privacy laws and explain the legal parameters and best practices in communicating with patients' family, friends, and others involved in their care. The session will provide osteopathic physicians with key concepts and practical examples critical to both protecting patient privacy and engaging in commonsense communications with patients' loved ones to advance patient care.

Upon completion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the circumstances in which privacy laws permit the sharing of protected health information (PHI) with patients' family, friends, and/or caretakers.
  2. Describe the circumstances in which privacy laws prohibit the sharing of PHI with patients' family, friends, and/or caretakers.
  3. Discuss how understanding the professional discretion afforded to clinicians under health privacy laws can optimize patient care and improve patient-physician communication.

 

Statement of Accreditation
The Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA) is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians. TOMA designates is program for a maximum of 1 AOA Category 1-A credits and will report CME credits commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.

Grievance Policy
All grievances may be directed to TOMA's Executive Director at toma@txosteo.org. All grievances will receive an initial response within 30 days of receipt.  If the participant does not receive a satisfactory response, they can submit a complaint to the Bureau of Osteopathic Education of the AOA at 142 East Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611.
 

Handouts

Faculty

Charles Kels, JD's Profile

Charles Kels, JD Related Seminars and Products


Charlie Kels is an attorney for the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Health Security and a judge advocate in the Air Force Reserve. He previously served as an associate general counsel and regional chief counsel at the Defense Health Agency; a legal instructor for the Army Medical Center of Excellence; an attorney with the State Department's Bureau of Medical Services, a senior attorney at the American Medical Association; and a legal advisor for the Department of Homeland Security's Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer. He has served for twenty years on active duty and in the reserves as an Air Force JAG, including as a medical law consultant and disability counsel. The views expressed are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Homeland Security, Air Force, or any federal agency.

 

Mr. Kels discloses that he has no relevant financial relationships with any organization producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients relative to the content of this presentation.


Reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Overall:      4.5

Total Reviews: 38