1. Can the phone number of a patient’s room be released as part of the facility directory?
2. Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit a hospital to inform callers or visitors of a patient’s location and general condition in the emergency room, even if the patient’s information would not normally be included in the main hospital directory of admitted patients?
3. May a hospital or other covered entity notify a patient's family member or other person that the patient is at their facility?
4. Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit hospitals and other health care facilities to inform visitors or callers about a patient’s location in the facility and general condition?
5. Can the fact that a patient has been "treated and released," or that a patient has died, be released as part of the facility directory?
6. Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit a doctor to discuss a patient’s health status, treatment, or payment arrangements with the patient’s family and friends?
7. Can a patient have a friend or family member pick up a prescription for her?
8. May physician's offices or pharmacists leave messages for patients at their homes, either on an answering machine or with a family member, to remind them of appointments or to inform them that a prescription is ready? May providers continue to mail appointment or prescription refill reminders to patients' homes?