H.I.P.A.A. / Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – 1996.

• Anyone desiring visitation by clergy or others must give permission to be in the hospital directory AND must give permission for the hospital to contact the church.  Otherwise, the church will not know unless a family member contacts the church/pastors.
  
  
  
• When the church/pastors are informed by family members or the hospital that someone is in the hospital, pastors, deacons and lay visitors may visit as always.  If a patient has chosen to be in the hospital directory, a caller will be given the room number.
  
  
  
• After securing permission from the individual and/or family we will continue to remember persons in worship during our time of prayers and concerns.  Individual’s names will be added to the Prayer Chain only after securing permission from the individual and/or family.
  
• Asking permission for public sharing of information during worship and through the Prayer Chain is a practice church staff has always attempted to follow.

Spring Creek Church of the Brethren

3/21/05