Patient Privacy

Respecting patient privacy is very important to us at St. Joseph Hospital. When you enter our facility for treatment your name (some exceptions apply) will be placed in our Hospital Directory, unless you request otherwise.

Having your name listed in the Hospital Directory means that when anyone – including immediate or extended family, friends, neighbors, co-workers or news reporters -- call or come to the hospital and ask for you:

  • We will confirm that you are here
     
  • We will confirm if you have been discharged
     
  • We will give out your room number so that visitors can find you
     
  • We will transfer phone calls to your room and will give out your room phone extension number
     
  • We will accept delivery of flowers, other gifts and cards for you
     
  • We will accept written notes for you
     
  • We will answer questions about your condition, however, this information is limited to a one-word description ranging from “Good” to “Satisfactory” to “Critical”
     
  • If you are transferred to another hospital, we cannot release that information, but can say that you have been discharged from St. Joseph Hospital
     

“Do Not Announce” status – what it means

If you as the patient choose the “Do Not Announce” (DNA) status and anyone – including immediate or extended family, friends, ministers, coworkers and news reporters -- call or come to the hospital and ask for you, under federal law all the hospital is permitted to say is, “We have no information for you on a person by that name.”

  • We cannot say that you are here
     
  • We cannot say that you are not here
     
  • We cannot give out your room number so that a visitor can find you
     
  • We cannot transfer phone calls to your room (unless the caller already has your room number)
     
  • We cannot accept delivery of flowers, gifts, cards or written messages for you
     
  • We cannot accept a written message for you
     
  • We cannot answer questions about your condition (“How is Mrs. Johnson doing?”)
     

“Do Not Disturb” status

“Do Not Disturb” status should not be confused with “Do Not Announce.” Do Not Disturb may be requested by patients who would like their incoming phone calls to go straight to voice mail and accessed later at their convenience.

Please dial “O” for the hospital operator and request Do Not Disturb status.

 

 
It is very helpful for every patient to choose a person who can be the contact point for other family and friends, who will provide information in accordance with the patient’s wishes.
 

 

Patients have a choice about information privacy

The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets privacy standards for health care information.

Under these regulations, effective April, 2003, every patient has the right to choose “do not announce” (DNA) status. Please read this page to understand what this status means to you as a patient.

Contact St. Joseph Hospital’s Regional Privacy Office for more information: 360-738-6307

 

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Patient Information