HIPAA and employee access to their own record

Another HIPAA Q & A from HcPro’s newsletter Briefings on HIPAA:

Q: Do HIPAA regulations forbid employees from accessing their own records? For example, could a hospital employee review the results of his or her recent laboratory test? 

A: The HIPAA privacy rule does not prohibit healthcare organization employees from accessing their own records. In fact, the privacy rule gives individuals the right to access their PHI. However, your organization’s policies may regulate this practice.

Many healthcare organizations have written policies that prohibit employees from using electronic health records (EHR) to access their own PHI. Instead, they require employees to request access to their PHI through the HIM department, just as they do all other patients.

About the Author

Reed Tinsley CPA

This article is written by Reed Tinsley, a Houston, TX-based CPA with over 30 years of experience advising physicians and medical practices across Texas and the United States. Reed holds certifications as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified Healthcare Business Consultant (CHBC), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), specializing exclusively in the healthcare sector. He is a published author, nationally recognized speaker, and trusted advisor to physicians on accounting & tax, practice management, and financial planning. Schedule a Free Consultation.