Confidentiality Agreement

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"Thank you for understanding the precautions and policy in place to protect and care for those we serve. We truly appreciate your kindness!"

Robyn Challinor,  Portage Manor Administrator

As a user of information at Portage Manor you may develop, use, or maintain (1) resident information (for health care, quality improvement, peer review, education, billing, reimbursement, administration, research, or for other purposes), (2) personnel information (for employment, payroll, or other business purposes), or (3) confidential business information of Portage Manor and/or third parties, including third-party software and other licensed products or processes. This information from any source and in any form, including, but not limited to, paper record, oral communication, audio recording, and electronic display, is strictly confidential. Access to confidential information is permitted only on a need-to-know basis and limited to the minimum amount of confidential information necessary to accomplish the intended purpose of the use, disclosure or request. It is the policy of Portage Manor that users (i.e., employees, medical staff, students, volunteers, and outside affiliates) shall respect and preserve the privacy, confidentiality and security of confidential information.

Violations of this statement include, but are not limited to:

  • Accessing information that is not within the scope of your duties;
  • Misusing, disclosing without proper authorization, or altering confidential information;
  • Disclosing to another person your sign-on code and/or password for accessing electronic or confidential information or for physical access to restricted areas;
  • Using another person’s sign-on code and/or password for accessing electronic confidential information or for physical access to restricted areas;
  • Intentional or negligent mishandling or destruction of confidential information;
  • Leaving a secured application unattended while signed on; or
  • Attempting to access a secured application or restricted area without proper authorization or for purposes other then official Portage Manor Licensed Residential Care Facility business.

Violation of this statement may constitute grounds for corrective action up to and including termination of employment or student status, loss of Portage Manor privileges or contractual or affiliation rights in accordance with applicable Portage Manor procedures. Unauthorized use or release of confidential information may also subject the violator to personal, civil, and/or criminal liability and legal penalties.

EXAMPLES OF BREACHES OF CONFIDENTIALITY

Accessing confidential information that is not within the scope of your duties: Unauthorized reading of patient account information; Unauthorized reading of a resident’s chart; Unauthorized access of personnel file information; Accessing information that you do not “need-to know” for the proper execution of your duties. Misusing, disclosing without proper authorization, or altering confidential information: Making unauthorized marks on a resident’s chart; Making unauthorized changes to a personnel file; Sharing or reproducing information in a residents chart or a personnel file with unauthorized personnel; Discussing confidential information in a public area such as a common area, lunch room, or elevator. Disclosing to another person your sign-on code and password for accessing electronic confidential information or for physical access to restricted areas: Telling a co-worker your password so that he or she can log in to your work or access your work area; Telling an unauthorized person the access codes for personnel files, resident accounts, or restricted areas. Using another person’s sign-on code and/or password for accessing electronic confidential information or for physical access to restricted areas: Using a co-worker’s password to log in to the software computer system or access their work area; Unauthorized use of a login code for access to personnel files, resident accounts, or restricted areas. Intentional or negligent mishandling or destruction of confidential information: Leaving confidential information in areas outside of your work area, such as the cafeteria or your home. Disposing of confidential information in a non-approved container, such as a trash can. Leaving a secured application unattended while signed on: Being away from your desk while you are logged into an application. Allowing a co-worker to use your secured application for which he or she does not have access after you have logged in. Attempting to access a secured application or restricted area without proper authorization or for purposes other than official Portage Manor Licensed Residential Care Facility business: Trying passwords and login codes to gain access to an unauthorized area of the computer system or restricted area; Using a co-worker’s application for which you do not have access after he or she is logged in. The examples above are only a few types of mishandling of confidential information. If you have any questions about the handling, use or disclosure of confidential information please contact your supervisor, manager, or director.