Communicating with Patients' Family and Friends (ETHICS)

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.