Limits to Confidentiality. The law protects the privacy of all communications between a patient and a mental health provider. In most situations, we can only release information about your treatment or assessment to others if you sign a written Authorization. There are other situations that require only that you provide written, advance consent. Your signature on this agreement provides consent for those activities, as follows: • Clinical information about your case may be shared fully within WCU CMHS by the students enrolled in clinic practicum and staff/faculty for educational, evaluation and therapeutic purposes. If clinical staff present case information at professional conferences, the information will be disguised such that it is impossible to link the information to you or your family. • We employ administrative staff who have access to some of your protected information for both clinical and administrative purposes, such as scheduling, billing and quality assurance. All staff members have been given training about protecting your privacy and have agreed not to release any information outside of WCU CMHS. • On occasion, WCU CMHS may find it helpful to consult with another health or mental health professional. During such a consultation, every effort is made to avoid revealing the identity of the patient. The other professional is legally bound to keep the information confidential. All consultations are noted in the patient record. • If a patient seriously threatens to harm him/herself, we may be obligated to seek hospitalization for him/her, or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection. There are some situations where we are permitted or required to disclose information without your consent or authorization: • If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made for information concerning the professional services we provided to you, such information is protected by the psychologist-patient privilege law. We cannot provide any information without your written authorization, or a court order. If you are involved in or contemplating litigation, you should consult with your attorney to determine whether a court would be likely to order us to disclose information. • If a government agency is requesting the information for health oversight activities, we may be required to provide it for them. • If a patient files a complaint or lawsuit against WCU CMHS, we may disclose relevant information regarding that patient as part of our defense. • If we...
Limits to Confidentiality. We will not disclose your information to any third party without consent except where required by law, where failure to do so might result in serious injury or death of self or others, or where there is knowledge or suspicion of child abuse.
Limits to Confidentiality. All communications between therapist and client is held in strictest confidence unless: • The client (or legal guardian) authorizes release of information with a signature and waives this privilege. • The therapist is ordered by a court to release information (not a subpoena but a court order from a judge) • Dependent or elder abuse and/or neglect is suspected or revealed. • The client appears to pose a direct threat to themselves, or someone else’s life (ex. Actively suicidal or homicidal). • Patriot Act-in certain circumstances, the therapist may be required to provide records upon request to the FBI. • Insurance verification for medical necessity determination.
Limits to Confidentiality. The seminar instructor will attempt to ensure a safe and productive learning environment for all participants. Any participants who are behaving in such a manner that threatens a safe and productive environment will be removed from the online session by seminar instructor and/or moderator(s). As a Registered Psychologist and regulated health professional in the province of Alberta, the seminar facilitator is ethically, legally, and professionally mandated to act on information/disclosures that imminently threaten the physical safety of participants. The seminar facilitator has a legal, ethical, and professional responsibility to report information to the appropriate person or authorities in the following instances:
Limits to Confidentiality. There are situations where your clinician may be required or permitted to disclose information without your authorization. These situations are unusual at TRUE CONNECTIONS COUNSELING, PLLC. These include:
Limits to Confidentiality. The law protects the privacy of communications between a patient/client and a psychologist or other mental health professional. In most situations, we can only release information about your treatment to others if you sign a written Authorization form that meets certain legal requirements imposed by HIPAA and Maine law, or in some cases, if you provide oral authorization. However, in the following situations, no authorization is required: You should be aware that this is a group practice with other mental health professionals and administrative staff. Some staff may see some information for the purposes of scheduling, billing, quality assurance, or archival research. In our group practice, there is one electronic chart per patient and any psychologist or clinician who treats that patient will have access to that chart. All staff members have been given training about confidentiality and protecting your privacy. Your psychologist or clinician may occasionally find it helpful to consult with other health and mental health professionals about your treatment. Consultations are usually done in de-identified format – i.e., without mentioning your name. The other professionals are also legally bound to keep the information confidential. If you don’t object, we will not tell you about these consultations unless we feel it is important to our work together. Health Psych Maine has contracts with a computer service professional and an accounting firm. As required by HIPAA, we have a formal business associate contract with these businesses, in which they promise to maintain the confidentiality of this data except as specifically allowed in the contract or otherwise required by law. If you wish, we can provide you with the names of these organizations and/or a blank copy of this contract. If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made for information concerning your diagnosis and treatment, such information is protected by the psychologist-patient privilege law. We cannot provide any information without your (or your legal representative’s) written authorization, or a court order. If you are involved in or contemplating litigation, you should consult with your attorney to determine whether a court would be likely to order us to disclose information. If a government agency is requesting information for health oversight activities, we may be required to provide it for them. If a patient files a complaint or lawsuit against us, we may disclose...
Limits to Confidentiality. 4.1 The personal, legal and practical limits of confidentiality need to be discussed and clarified. In making an agreement the Client should be informed of circumstances in which there could be potential breaches in confidentiality. (See COSRT Practice Guideline 5: Confidentiality).
Limits to Confidentiality. All information you share with us is strictly confidential and will not be released without your voluntary and written consent. There are limitations to the confidentiality described above and these include:
Limits to Confidentiality. In exceptional circumstances the organisation may need to break confidentiality if they believe there is a real intent of serious harm or danger to either their client or another individual. Such circumstances may pertain to issues relating to sexual abuse, rape, self-harm, suicidal ideation or criminal activity. In as far as is possible, in such cases, a full explanation will be given regarding the necessary procedures that may need to be taken. Wexford MarineWatch | Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure Policy 2
Limits to Confidentiality. Based on the legal review conducted as part of preparation (Step 1.1), program staff must communicate any limits to confidentiality, such as mandatory reporting requirements, to each client before asking about violence. The staff should tell the client what acts require the staff to report information the client has shared and to whom the report would be made. [Program to include examples of situations that according to local laws must be reported, such as violence with a firearm or harm to minors or the elderly.] If the client shares an experience that requires mandatory reporting, the provider should follow all local procedures and let the client know what those procedures entail. When bringing up the issue of violence, the staff person should explain why questions about violence are being asked—1) out of concern for the client’s well-being, 2) due to the effects of violence on HIV-related outcomes, and 3) for assurance that index testing can be done safely. Staff should also share that these questions are asked of everyone, and that many people experience problems at home. Consider using this language: “Many people experience problems with their spouse or partner. This may include violence. Violence from a partner can negatively affect many aspects of your life, including your health, and because I care about your health and well-being, I want to ask you the following questions before we talk about partner notification. I want you to know that I will keep anything you tell me between us, unless you give me permission to share it. [If mandatory reporting is required, add language such as, ‘The only circumstances under which I will share what you tell me are….’] Because your safety is important to me, I would like to ask you the following questions.” Use a standard set of questions to ask about violence from each named partner, one partner at a time. Consider using the text below, adapted from PEPFAR guidance:c Has [partner’s name] ever made you feel afraid, bullied or insulted you, threatened to hurt you, or tried to control you (for example, not letting you go out of the house)? Has [partner’s name] ever hit, kicked, slapped, or otherwise physically hurt you? Has [partner’s name] ever forced you into sex or forced you to have any sexual contact you did not want? If working with key population members, consider developing questions tailored to their experiences (see Appendix F). If violence is not disclosed, remind the client that you and the other staff...
