PS question (HIPAA)

[Gameraddict]

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I submitted my app already so I can't change anything but on my PS I mentioned a patient's exact age which was over 89 years old. However I just read somewhere that mentioning an exact age over 89 was a violation of HIPAA. I honestly had no clue that this was the case, I didn't even include the patient's name cause I knew that would be a violation. Should I contact AMCAS or the medical schools that it was an honest mistake? Thanks.

 

[nabilesmail]

Did you mention his name?

 

[Gameraddict]

Did you mention his name?

nope....i just said X year old patient

 

[WaterPog]

yea, with ages in the 90+ range and a location the number of possible individuals gets really small really fast. Add in anything about a medical condition and a date and it gets pretty easy to identify an individual.

I doubt it will be an issue in your PS, and regardless it's too late for you to do anything but apologize about it when/if it comes up....or act as a cautionary tale for the rest of us. Be sure to let us know.

 

[Gameraddict]

For someone who had a similar experience...was this an issue?

I'm kind of freaked out now and was wondering if this is enough for a med school to reject you or even worse blacklist you from applying.

 

[Ismet]

For someone who had a similar experience...was this an issue?

I'm kind of freaked out now and was wondering if this is enough for a med school to reject you or even worse blacklist you from applying.

I highly doubt adcoms expect pre-meds to be well-versed in all the intricacies of HIPAA. I didn't even know about that rule. But like was said above, you can't change it, and if it happens to come up (I doubt it will), apologize and explain that you weren't aware of the rule until after submission.

 

[Geebeejay]

yea, with ages in the 90+ range and a location the number of possible individuals gets really small really fast. Add in anything about a medical condition and a date and it gets pretty easy to identify an individual.

Uh, not really?

OP, there's no reason to bring it up or apologize. If it is a rule in HIPAA, it is very obscure. Mentioning patient identifiers such as DOB and name is a much bigger deal. On the floor, medical workers mention patient ages all the time, often in public places....age is a very important and relevant part of a patient's history and story.

 

[pepes1lv1a]

I submitted my app already so I can't change anything but on my PS I mentioned a patient's exact age which was over 89 years old. However I just read somewhere that mentioning an exact age over 89 was a violation of HIPAA. I honestly had no clue that this was the case, I didn't even include the patient's name cause I knew that would be a violation. Should I contact AMCAS or the medical schools that it was an honest mistake? Thanks.

"Did I write 89? I meant 59! Heavens, how careless of me!" then clutch your pearls