Professional Practice: The Daily PANCE Blueprint
A nurse in a busy medical clinic mistakenly hands a patient’s lab results to another patient with a similar name. The incorrect patient notices that the results do not belong to them and returns the document to the nurse. The clinic manager is informed of the incident and immediately retrieves the lab results. The clinic manager instructs the nurse to document the incident in the patient’s medical record and to notify the patient whose information was disclosed. What is the best next step in addressing this situation?
A. Contact the patient within 60 days to determine if the lab results were shared
B. No additional action is necessary
C. Notify the patient verbally of the breach of confidentiality at their next visit
D. Notify the health department to initiate disciplinary action against the nurse
E. Send a written letter to the patient explaining what information was released and who received it