Subject: Privacy and Confidentiality
Policy Number: 8
Effective Date: 5/18/04
Evaluative Criteria: 5D
Policy:
The Penn State Physical Therapist Assistant program is committed to rights and privileges of persons’ associated with the educational program in regards to privacy and confidentiality. We ensure the protection of the rights of students, patients, program faculty and staff with regard of privacy and confidentiality.
Procedures:
- The PTA program adheres to the following institutional policies as related to privacy and confidentiality: -The University Policy on Confidentiality of Student Records- AD11 http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD11.html -Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)- AD22 http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD22.html -Use of Institutional Data- AD23 http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD23.html -Identification Cards for Students, Faculty/ Staff, Affiliates, and Retirees -AD24 https://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD24.html -Privacy Policy- AD53 https://policy.psu.edu/policies/ad53.
- Students and faculty will treat all patients they encounter in the PTA lab, educational outings, and the clinics with dignity and respect. Students and faculty will maintain confidentiality in all matters pertaining to patients including those things that they see and hear.
- All PTA students are required to sign a Statement of Confidentiality and a statement of understanding the Patient Bill of Rights prior to the beginning of clinical affiliations.
- All PTA students are required to complete HIPAA training via online learning originating from the Penn State University’s Privacy Officer. Students must complete and achieve a passing score on the online quiz following training. Student then need to sign the acknowledgement form pertaining to HIPAA policies and return it to the Privacy Officer of the University.
- Students will sign a Release Information Form authorizing that their photo, names, addresses, and phone numbers may be given to clinical sites prior to clinical affiliations.
- The University recognizes its obligation not to infringe upon the rights of members in relation to their personal papers, confidential records and effects and in all communications by mail, telephone, and other electronic means, subject only to the general law and University regulations.
- Students upload information for Clinical Experiences into CastleBranch and can provide access upon request to the clinical site, such as immunizations, clearances, and vaccinations.
- Clinical instructors are informed not to discuss student grades and information to anyone that is not directly involved with the student’s clinical education experience.
Revised 8/2012, 8/2013, 5/2014, 6/2015, 3/2016, 5/2022, 5/2024