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Confidentiality

Disclaimer: Law, rules and regulations, not Guidelines, specify the requirements for practice and violating them constitutes professional misconduct. Not adhering to this Guideline may be interpreted as professional misconduct only if the conduct also violates pertinent law, rules and regulations.

Occupational therapy professionals should understand and abide by applicable state policies, guidelines and regulations regarding confidentiality.

Occupational therapy professionals should protect all privileged confidential forms of written, verbal, and electronic communication gained from education, practice, research, and investigational activities unless otherwise mandated by state regulations.

Professional relationships between occupational therapy professionals and patients/clients should in no way exploit the patient/client sexually, physically, emotionally, financially, socially or in any other manner.

Patient/client information is confidential and may not be released without the consent of the patient or the patient's guardian. For more information, see Recordkeeping and Meeting HIPPA/FERPA Privacy Standards.

Information about colleagues and staff

Occupational therapy professionals must preserve, respect, and safeguard confidential information about colleagues and staff, unless otherwise mandated by state law.

Group therapy

When providing group treatment and/or working in a setting where confidential information may be revealed to more than one individual at the same time, it is the responsibility of the occupational therapy professionals to inform the individuals within the setting (students, consumers, staff) of limits of confidentiality. It is recommended that you document having provided this information