1. ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN RECORD KEEPING
(THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY)

2. DEFINING CONFIDENTIALITY
THE OBLIGATION OF PROFESSIONALS TO RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF THE CLIENTS AND THE INFORMATION THEY PROVIDE (HANDELSMAN, 1987).
GOES BEYOND RECORD-KEEPING
COVERS ALL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CLIENT AND COUNSELOR

3. PURPOSE OF CONFIDENTIALITY
PURPOSE IS TO ENCOURAGE HONEST DISCLOSURE BY CLIENT
PROTECT CLIENT FROM HARM I.E. DISCRIMINATION

4. OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS:
LIABILITY AND LEGAL ISSUES
PRIVILIGED COMMUNICATION
42-CFR-PART 2
HIPAA (HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996)
WORKING WITH MINORS
CONFIDENTIALITY CAN NEVER BE GUARANTEED

5. EXCEPTIONS TO CONFIDENTIALITY:
THREATS TO SELF
THREATS TO OTHERS (DUTY TO WARN)
CHILD ABUSE/VULNERABLE ADULT ABUSE
CRIMES ON PREMISES
MEDICAL EMERGENCY ON PREMISES
INTRAGENCY COMMUNICATION
COURT SUBPOENAS
WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM CLIENT

6. POINTS TO REMEMBER RE: 42-CFR-PART TWO
APPLIES TO FEDERALLY FUNDED SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITIES.
INACTED TO PROTECT POTENTIAL, CURRENT, AND PAST CLIENTS.
RESTRICTS DISCLOSURE OF PATIENT IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.
VIOLATIONS INCLUDE FINES, AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CERTIFICATION AND/OR LICENSE.

7. HIPAA GUIDELINES
ENACTED IN ORDER TO PROTECT PATIENT’S/CLIENT’S PRIVACY IN A HEALTHCARE SETTING, BUT ALSO TO STILL PERMIT IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO BE USED IN TERMS OF CONTINUITY OF CARE AND BILLING.
SPECIFICALLY SET UP TO PROTECT PATIENT’S/CLIENT’S ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF PRIVATE INFORMATION.

8. GUIDELINES ON PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
DO NOT LEAVE CHARTS OUT IN THE OPEN
DO NOT CONVERSE ABOUT A CLIENT OUTSIDE OF THE AGENCY

9. GUIDELINES DO NOT POST CLIENT’S NAMES OUT IN THE OPEN
USE PLAIN ENVELOPES FOR MAILINGS.
DO NOT TAKE RECORDS OF ANY KIND HOME WITH YOU.

10. GUIDELINES
ONLY INCLUDE PERTINENT INFORMATION IN YOUR DOCUMENTATION .(ABRIDGEMENT)
RELEASE OF INFORMATION ONLY WITH WRITTEN CONSENT

11. GUIDELINES
ALL RECORDS SHOULD BE KEPT IN ONE AREA. AFTER HOURS THE FILE CABINENTS SHOULD BE UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
KNOW PROPER PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING FILES.

12. GUIDELINES
HAVE A SECURE STORAGE PLACE FOR TERMINATED FILES AND PROPER METHOD OF DESTROYING OLD FILES TO PROTECT CLIENT’S PRIVACY.