Professional and Administrative Responsibilities

Under HIPAA, do not disclose whether someone is a patient or share their condition with unauthorized individuals; refer requests to appropriate staff.

Follow the HIPAA minimum necessary standard: access and share only the information needed to perform your specific task.

Never discuss protected health information in public areas or on social media, regardless of the patient's status or fame.

Respect a competent patient's right to refuse care; explain the benefits, honor the refusal, and report it.

Objective data are measurable facts (a 128/82 mmHg reading); subjective data are what the patient reports (pain, nausea).

Correct a paper charting error with a single line through it, label it 'error' with initials and date, and enter the correct information; never erase or use correction fluid.

Verify two patient identifiers, chart promptly and accurately, review before saving, and use only your own login.

Complete an incident (occurrence) report after events such as falls, documenting the facts objectively and keeping it separate from the medical record.

Adjusting medications or IV rates is outside the technician's scope; report such requests to the licensed nurse.

When unsure about an assignment, follow the chain of command and clarify with the supervising nurse before acting.

Negligence is failing to provide reasonable, standard care resulting in patient harm; follow orders and safety measures to prevent it.

As a mandated reporter, report suspected abuse or neglect through proper channels rather than investigating or confronting anyone.

The provider performing a procedure, not the technician, is responsible for obtaining informed consent.

Use therapeutic communication with open-ended questions and reflection; avoid false reassurance and dismissing concerns.

Respect cultural preferences such as eye-contact norms and family involvement, adapting care accordingly.

For a hard-of-hearing patient, face them, speak clearly at a moderate pace, reduce background noise, and ensure hearing aids are in place.

Honor advance directives, which state a patient's care wishes and may name a proxy for when they cannot communicate.

A telemetry technician monitors and communicates rhythm changes but does not diagnose or treat.

Report significant rhythm changes, especially with symptoms such as chest discomfort, to the nurse immediately.

Never silence alarms without assessing the patient and the cause.

Document observations promptly and accurately to support timely intervention.