Please note that this is only a tool to assist your learning. It is highly recommended, although it is not for assessment and does not need to be submitted to your university or TAFE. Answers at the bottom of the page
1. Your neighbour has recently been discharged from the hospital where your placement was. They ask you to find out the dates, doctor and admission ward for them. How would you handle this?
a) Assist them to get the information, but only if you are working in the Medico-Legal Service at the time.
b) Look up their information in HBCIS and advise them of the details.
c) Advise them to contact the Medico-Legal Service and apply for this information.
d) Any of the above – as a student at Queensland Health you have a right to access this information.
2. Two months after leaving your placement, a group of friends are talking about a person you know. You recall that as part of your student duties at the health care facility you became aware that this person had attended the facility where your placement was. You…
a) Tell your friends all you know – as you are no longer on placement at the facility, you have a right to discuss this information.
b) Say nothing – you understand that you are obligated under the Health Services Act 1991 to maintain confidentiality, even after leaving the (placement at) employment of Queensland Health.
c) Tell your friends that the person came to the facility, but don’t release any further details.
3. Another student you know has been unexpectedly admitted to the hospital, and you have become aware of it whilst carrying out your duties. What should you do?
a) Say nothing – this matter is none of your business and should not be discussed with anybody.
b) Advise a selection of other students but caution them not to tell anybody other than the student’s closest friends.
c) Don’t tell anybody else, but go to the ward in your lunch break to visit the student– you are sure they’ll want some company.
4. You have a right to access your own records (eg HBCIS, medical records) by simply looking up HBCIS or going down to medical records and pulling your own chart:
TRUE or FALSE
5.A telephone call has been put through to you – you are being asked to confirm if a patient has attended the facility in the past. What do you do?
a) If the information is easily accessible, and you have time to do so, take the applicant’s details and release the information.
b) Check our records. Confirm to the caller if the patient has been here before, but advise that you cannot release any further information.
c) Put the call through to the Medico-Legal Service for processing.
6. A patient has been admitted to the hospital with a very sensitive condition and you have become aware of it as part of your normal duties. You…
a) Can only discuss/gossip with hospital staff and other students– nobody outside of Queensland Health should know.
b) Should not say anything as you would be in breach of the Health Services Act 1991.
c) Tell only your closest friends and supervisors without providing identifying details.
7.You receive a telephone call from the media requesting information. You …
a) Check details and confirm only if the patient is a patient – but provide no other information.
b) Check details and if the patient is an inpatient, put the call through to the ward.
c) Put the call through to the Public Relations Unit without releasing any information.
8.When would it be appropriate for students or supervisors and students to discuss confidential information?
a) Only if relevant to their duties.
b) Only during office hours.
c) Anytime, but only if others cannot overhear the conversation.
d) In the lift, on the way to lunch.
9. You take a phone call on the ward where you have your placement. The caller asks to speak to a specific nurse. You are aware this nurse has completed her shift and has gone home. You tell the caller that she is not on duty. The caller says he is her cousin and that he needs to contact her urgently regarding an emergency family matter. He asks if you can give him her home phone number. You …?
a) Look up the nurse's number in the staff address book located at the nurses station and provide the number
b) State that you will not give out staff personal details and hang up
c) Explain that you cannot give out staff personal details but take down his name, number and offer to contact the nurse yourself – asking her to call him
ANSWERS: 1 c; 2 b; 3 a; 4 FALSE – You may apply to the Medico-Legal Service to access your records (just like a member of the general public). Documents belong to Qld Health and must be processed in accordance with Qld Health legislation and policy; 5 c; 6 b; 7 c; 8 a; 9 c
Back to question 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9
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