After her overnight shift, a resident physician enters an elevator jammed with nurses and other hospital staff members on her way to morning signout. The team's medical student boards the elevator and inquires about the resident's shift. Throughout the interview, the student avoids mentioning the patient's name, instead asking, "Did the patient in Room 232 obtain her CT scan?" Which of the following responses to the student is the most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Physicians have an ethical obligation to maintain patient confidentiality, including interactions with other members of the healthcare team in public locations and non-medical situations. It is important to avoid sharing any information about potential patients in circumstances where discussion of the patient's healthcare information may be overheard. Physicians should maintain strong confidentiality requirements in any public environment, especially when other health care professionals who are not involved in the patient's treatment are present.
Although the medical student did not use the patient's name in this example, the room number may readily be linked to the patient by anybody who overhears, infringing on the patient's privacy under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). 
 The most advisable course of action is to defer the conversation to a more appropriate and private setting outside the elevator.

After Her Overnight Shift, a Resident Physician Enters an Elevator