Client-Centered Resources

Protecting Patient Privacy

Patient privacy and confidentiality is a fundamental principle underlying the delivery of healthcare. When confidentiality is not assured, patients may be reluctant to communicate openly with their health care provider, and may delay or even forgo accessing needed care. One particular area of concern is the potential for sensitive information, about the care received by dependents, to be inadvertently divulged to health insurance policy holders (such as parents/guardians or spouses) through billing-related communications. Disclosure of sensitive health information can negatively impact all consumers of healthcare services, but are most problematic and common for adults of any age whose partner holds the insurance policy; minors who may consent to healthcare services and are insured through a parent; and young adults (age 18-26) remaining on their parents' health insurance.

Provider Confidentiality Survey: The Adolescent and School Health and Reproductive Health Programs surveyed healthcare providers across the state to better understand the impact of patient confidentiality concerns on provider practice, and the policies and practices in place to strengthen confidentiality protections.

• Provider Confidentiality Survey Findings

Oregon Confidential Communication Request Law: Oregon law (ORS 743B.555) gives patients enrolled in a private health insurance policy the right to request that protected health information be sent directly to them instead of the person who pays for their health insurance (i.e., the primary account holder or policy holder). Patients must complete, sign and send the Oregon Request for Confidential Communication form to their health insurance company. The form can be sent by mail, fax or email.

• The Oregon Confidential Request: What Providers Need to Know Webinar
• Recording
• Slides

• The Oregon Confidential Request: What Providers Need to Know Fact Sheet

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Putting the QFP into Practice

The Family Planning National Training Centers developed a series of FREE webinars and toolkits designed to help providers put the QFP recommendations into practice. Topics include client-centered counseling, how to determine a client's need for services; integrating reproductive life planning into family planning sessions, etc.  These tools may be especially appropriate for new staff and primary care providers trying to integrate Title X services into their practice.

View the series and explore the topics.