Hello everyone.

I am (relatively) new to an agency that does not leave field patient
care reports at the hospital once care has been handed over. I
complained about this for a variety of reasons.

I am told that there was an instance in the past where following a
formal records release from the hospital for purposes of litigation,
our PCR turned up--a surprise since there had been no formal records
request from us.

I have been under the impression that once we left that PCR with the
hospital it's part of the medical record.

The management here, after an opinion from our legal counsel, supports
the practice of not leaving PCRs with the hospital since we know they
could release it without patient consent, a HIPAA violation, except in
the instances where it is required by law.

I believe that this practice isn't doing the patient any favors, and,
perhaps, contributing to worse patient care downstream.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks very much.

--wwd