Sharing Patient Transfusion & Antibody Info

[tlorme]

Hi all...a quick question: When working on a new patient antibody ID, you obtain information regarding past hospitalizations at another facility. Do you routinely (or ever) call that facility's Transfusion Service to gain information regarding previously identified antibodies and/or compatibility testing problems and transfusion history? If you DO call another facility, has your request for this information ever been denied? thanks!

[David Saikin]

we may call if we know where they were and if we are experiencing unexpected results. Never a problem - this is not a HIPPA violation.

[L106]

We do not routinely call other facilities, but once in a while we do if we are having a difficult antibody identification problem and the patient tells us they have been treated at another facility. I do not recall ever being denied this information.

Also, there has been occasions when we have identified an antibody on a trauma patient, but the patient is transferred to another facility, so we have called the Transfusion Service at the other facility to give them a "heads up" and notify them of our findings.

Has anyone out there been hit with a "violation of confidentiality" problem with this topic?

[Deny Morlino]

We do not routinely check with other facilities, but have on occassion when working with problems and we know the patient has been transfused elsewhere. Same situation with the trauma situations as Donna indicated, we try to give the receiving hospital a head start if we can. Never have we experienced any HIPPA violation incidents as the information being "shared" is in the realm of patient care. We are simply working for the best outcome for the patient.

[Dr. Pepper]

As with the other posters, we don't routinely check with other places unless we have a problem that's giving us fits, or we know they see or are going to see the patient. And this is perfectly fine by HIPPA. (What a disservice to the patients it would be if we couldn't share vital information!)

[tbostock]

I agree, not a HIPAA violation because it is only used for the care of the patient. I have never regretted calling another Blood Bank for historical information; it has saved quite a few patients (and my sanity) over the years.

[Dr. Pepper]

Always much easier to solve the problem when you know the answer!

[rravkin@aol.com]

The more history the better!!!

[Likewine99]

If the pt knows they have been tx elsewhere and we are having problems we call the other facility. I'm with rravkin, the more info the better.

I would not call this a HIPAA violation, this is obtaining pertinent pt info to help deliver the safest possible blood product to the pt.

[Dr. Pepper]

When HIPAA went into effect several years ago our hospital's HIPAA guru looked into it and said there is no problem whatsoever sharing BB problem info between hospitals.

[bb4me]

We will call other facilities on occasion, when we have a difficult case and the patient tells us of prior transfusions. Likewise, we respond freely when other transfusion services call us with similar requests.

I am glad to see this topic brought up. I have often wondered about this practise, and how in this day of patient confidentiality, we are so "casual" about exchanging information. We joke sometimes about a "bloodbanker's secret handshake" that would identify us over the phone to other bloodbankers. Any suggetions for passwords, challenge questions, or the like? :cool:

[Marilyn Plett]

The password is the question about antigens and antibodies. Who other than a blood banker would ask????

[Deny Morlino]

The password is the question about antigens and antibodies. Who other than a blood banker would ask????

Or know the answers many times!

[LaraT23]

We have called on many occasions for our patients, we have a lot of retirees here. I have never had a refusal or any kind of issue, even calling out of state. I generally give the full name and date of birth of the patient, so they know I already have access to medical information.

[AMcCord]

I've also had very good luck requesting information by phone - instate and out of state. I identify myself fully and give them full patient name and BD as well.

[tjohnk1]

We routinely call for all of our antibody work ups. I once had to "prove" that my fax was secure when a panel sheet was being sent over but that wasn't a big problem. I love getting more info.

[NedB]

As a matter of policy, if you know the Patient was transfused with RBCs within the previous 3 months, you should call. The big scare is to miss an Anti-Jka. You know how Kidds can show variations in titer.

[EDibble]

We do call other facilities, especially when there are puzzling results that more information can help solve. We have patients tell us that they have never been transfused (I should say, they tell their nurse when we ask them to gather more info for us), only to find out that that is not the case when we call the facility where they had been treated in the past. We have been gathered invaluable information that way. We recently had a patient that we found three antibodies on, only to find that another facility had identified another one a few years ago. It was no longer reacting! We may have saved the patient a delayed transfusion reaction by finding out about that fourth antibody.

And, no, we have never had a problem getting the info. We give out info to other facilities when asked as well.

[beverleyj]

I always call the other facility and they have never denied my any information about the patient.

[kate murphy]

HIPAA rules allow for sharing of patient information when that information can directly affect patient care. Sharing of blood bank history falls within this and is allowed. We share with any other blood bank calling us, and have not had any issues when we call other blood banks. Sharing of diagnosis as well as drug history also falls within these guidelines. HIPAA violations only would occur if the information is shared outside the hospital - like if you told a neighbor.

[Mabel Adams]

I once had a "regular" that moved to California to be near his daughter. He had a bit of a warm auto and either an anti-E or his warm auto had a preference for E pos cells. We were never sure but he was E neg so we gave him E neg blood. I made up a little wallet card with our contact info on it for him when we heard he was moving and gave intructions to give it to the Blood Bank where he was going to be transfused. We got a call a few weeks later and explained the ins and outs (including that he went longer between transfusions if the MD put him on steroids for awhile or sometimes if we gave him Rh neg blood since his auto seemed to like D+ cells better). That caller was very appreciative and commented that many people would not share information with their BB due to HIPAA. It was pretty new then, but that is the only time I have heard of a BBer having problems with the transfer of this needed info.