Confidentiality Requirements

Client Confidentiality

All information about clients of Bailey’s Respite Care, Inc. is strictly confidential.  It is a crime to disclose confidential information to someone who is not authorized to receive confidential information (N.C.G.S. 122C-5-2).  You are governed by HIPAA, NC General Statutes and Federal Law regarding personal and private health information.  Violating these laws is a Class 3 misdemeanor and punishable by up to a $500.00 fine.

Confidential information is:

“Any information, whether recorded or not, relating to an individual served by a facility that was received in connection with any function of the facility” (N.C. G.S. 122C-52).

Facility means:

“Any person at one location whose primary purpose is to provide services for the care, treatment, habilitation, or rehabilitation” of persons with MI, I/DD, or SA (N.C.G.S. 122C-3(14).

What this means for you, the employee, is that you may not talk about our clients with anyone who is not directly related to the care and well-being of the client.  In addition, staff should respect personal privacy.    This may not seem like a big deal to you, but for our clients, this is an important part of their personal rights.  The people who participate in our programs have the right to be treated fairly and with dignity; talking about their personal information violates these rights.  Some people and facilities that you MAY disclose information to are:

  • Clients’ physician(s)/support service providers,
  • Emergency personnel,
  • BRC, Inc.’s employees also caring for the client,
  • BRC, Inc.’s management staff,
  • Clients’ Care Coordinator/LME,
  • Clients’ guardian/legally responsible person, and
  • Any person who has been granted consent in writing by the client/guardian/legally responsible person.

When in doubt about releasing information, speak with the Director about your responsibility.  This confidentiality extends to paperwork and the client’s record.  Your paperwork includes grids, mileage sheets, notes, signature pages, etc., and the client’s record, which includes PCP, NC SNAP, psychological evaluation, physicians’ orders, name, diagnosis, etc.

Personal Information

All information regarding Bailey’s Respite Care, Inc.’s employees is strictly confidential.  During the application process and throughout your employment with BRC, Inc., you will be asked to provide personal and confidential information.  This information is housed in the Human Resources office in a confidential personnel chart and is only available to Management.

While at work, employees must keep their personal business to themselves.  Absolutely no personal information should be shared with staff, parents, or consumers.

Any information about fellow employees should not be shared regardless of how it was learned.  Malicious gossip and/or discussing of confidential information is not tolerated and may result in disciplinary action.