HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES FIRED FOR VIEWING COLLIER’S MEDICAL RECORDS

Channel 4 in Jacksonville reports that 20 employees have been fired by Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center for improperly viewing the records of Jaguars lineman Richard Collier. Collier was admitted on September 2 after being shot 14 times. The workers allegedly violated federal HIPAA laws aimed at ensuring the privacy of medical records. The employees’ union apparently plans to challenge the terminations via a grievance. “This discipline is completely out of proportion to the offense,” Doug Martin of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said. “It’s also treating them differently than others have been treated in the past.” The hospital issued the following statement: “Any allegation of a breach in patient confidentiality is taken very seriously. All allegations are investigated thoroughly. If it has been determined that a violation has occurred, disciplinary action up to and including termination can be used. In order to maintain patient confidentiality we do not comment on any specific cases.”