How to avoid HIPAA violation

[superbigcat123]

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For a "Why Us" essay, I am considering speaking about what I have learned from a professor at my college. I learned about her groundbreaking work with a particular medical school, and our discussions really interested me in the school's innovative projects. However, we met because she was a regular patient at my clinical job, and we had long conversations while I helped her through treatment.

Is there a way I could mention this without breaking HIPAA? I was considering mentioning that she was simply a mentor, but it would not make sense because she teaches a class that I have not taken (also very different from my line of study).

 

[Goro]

You don't have to say that she was a patient.

People can mentor you just by sitting next to you on the bus every time you take the bus to work.

/thread

 

[Moko]

You don't have to say that she was a patient.

People can mentor you just by sitting next to you on the bus every time you take the bus to work.

/thread

And if for some reason the interviewer does probe into how you met your mentor (unlikely), you can (and should!) keep it vague, e.g. met through a mutual acquaintance, etc. Just my thoughts.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

For a "Why Us" essay, I am considering speaking about what I have learned from a professor at my college. I learned about her groundbreaking work with a particular medical school, and our discussions really interested me in the school's innovative projects. However, we met because she was a regular patient at my clinical job, and we had long conversations while I helped her through treatment.

Is there a way I could mention this without breaking HIPAA? I was considering mentioning that she was simply a mentor, but it would not make sense because she teaches a class that I have not taken (also very different from my line of study).

So how are disclosing her personal health information? Maybe I need to see what you plan to write in more context. Did you ask if she would feel comfortable about you mentioning that you met in this context? (Because getting a patient's consent would address your concerns. Maybe she can help you with writing this encounter.)

 

[xNinjaBurrito1]

I’m surprised three different experts have commented and nobody has suggested using a pseudonym. Doctors talk about their patients all the time and they either omit the name or use a pseudonym. I really doubt you’re discussing enough of this person’s PHI in your essay to identify the person without their actual name.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I’m surprised three different experts have commented and nobody has suggested using a pseudonym. Doctors talk about their patients all the time and they either omit the name or use a pseudonym. I really doubt you’re discussing enough of this person’s PHI in your essay to identify the person without their actual name.

I'm not sure a pseudonym helps if the OP intends to name drop the faculty member for Why Us.

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

For a "Why Us" essay, I am considering speaking about what I have learned from a professor at my college. I learned about her groundbreaking work with a particular medical school, and our discussions really interested me in the school's innovative projects. However, we met because she was a regular patient at my clinical job, and we had long conversations while I helped her through treatment.

Is there a way I could mention this without breaking HIPAA? I was considering mentioning that she was simply a mentor, but it would not make sense because she teaches a class that I have not taken (also very different from my line of study).

Did this Prof also write you a letter of recommendation? It would be very helpful to point to this as well. You also do not need to say you met at the clinic for this to be a compelling narrative. Many students try to medicalize their application to medical school when in reality some of the best personal statements/secondaries have nothing to do with medicine itself, but have everything to do with YOU and why you want to PURSUE a career in medicine. As long as you get this point across, I don't think the detail that you met in a clinical setting matters as much as the fact that you received quality mentorship that helped you decide that you wanted to pursue a medical education at this particular institution.