this deals with privacy rights, and even you as a clown volunteering need to know that you can be fined, if you give anyones information out [even accidently].
You can not ask what a pt's name it, or any information that identifies them ie 'where ya from?". Now they can volunteer if you introduce yourself and they tell you, that's fine, but your not treating them medically so you don't have any need to know their personal info. I mention this as in polite society asking some one their name or where they're from woudl be consider polite conversion. Just wanted to make you aware of this as it is an easy one to miss up on.

Good thought, Sue.

HIPPA regulations are pretty strict. It's easy to violate them without even realizing it, so taking extra care doesn't hurt.

hospitals are much more strict, here the pastors were allowed to visit any one who saw them and said yes, now they have to be sched. prior to the visit.

My pic is actually one done in the lobby of our hospital.

Those guidelines are something I come into contact with on an almost daily basis, so I'm all too familiar with them.

I guess since I'm hoping to start doing some hospital stuff this summer I should just be "generic" in my greetings? At least most of the jokes don't require me to have any information about the patients...

I dislike it because it makes things seem more impersonal. Part of my clowning is interacting with the person, calling them by name so they know I'm focused on them, etc. Clowning one-on-one is meant to be personal, otherwise, why bother?

But, a clown's gotta do what the HIPPA says. Icky ol' HIPPA.

Can you ask stuff like name and such if you just don't repeat it to anyone else?

No you can not ask for there name, but most people when you introduce your self will in turn tell you their name.

In my hospital before hippa, I could go down the hall and wave if the door was open I could ask if they'd like a visit. that way I had their permission to enter their room, I did not go to any closed door, unless the nurse had cleared it before hand. They alway knew ahead of time when I was coming and what time, so they could ask pts if they wanted a visit.

now they have to sched. the visit before hand. and have permision in writing, on a sched.

I don't do it now, they have a new coor. and the company policy doesn't allow employees to volunteer [ something to do with nurses wanting back pay] anyway. This was how the old coor. and I had it set up, unoffically for almost 2 yrs.