Volunteer Form

Confidentiality Agreement

Patient confidentiality

Because of the nature of the Clinic’s work, it is imperative that information pertaining to patients is kept confidential. All
applicable Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other legal standards and requirements will
be complied with. This policy applies to volunteers as well as board and staff members of the Northern Neck Free Health
Clinic.
● Under no circumstances are patients to be discussed outside the Clinic. Within the Clinic, cases should be
discussed only with those directly involved.
● Joint conferences to discuss patients must be held in private and on a “need to know” basis.
● All information about patients, their illnesses or their personal lives must be kept in strict confidence.
● Access to patient records is restricted only to those who have a specific reason, in accordance with applicable law,
to read the charts.
● Conversations with patients at the front desk, nurses’ station, lab, exam room and elsewhere must be held in a way
that protects the patient’s privacy and confidentiality. When talking with a patient on any matter, it should be done
in a way that other patients cannot overhear.
● Case histories, confidential papers and appointment books should not be kept in plain view.
● Do not give advice to patients on personal matters, even if they ask for it, and do not reveal patient information
even to the patient’s family members.
● If patients ask about their own cases, refer them to a medical provider.
● Since medical information by a provider is confidential, no patient information will be provided to outside
agencies except with the patient’s written consent or as permitted by applicable law.