Provider-Patient Confidentiality with School-Age Children and Adolescents

Order Description

an explanation of the provider’s role and responsibility regarding confidentiality between the patient and the patient’s family in the scenario you selected (see case study below). Explain how the provider should appropriately respond and facilitate the care of the patient in the scenario. Include interventions and management strategies that the provider should use to address the issues presented.

When treating pediatric patients in clinical settings, you also treat patients’ families. With younger patients, this tends to be a seamless process. However, as patients age and grow into the adolescent years, the provider-patient-family relationship becomes more complex. The change in this dynamic often creates questions in provider-patient confidentiality. As the advanced practice nurse providing care for school-age children, adolescents, and their families, how do you handle these confidentiality issues? If a child is a minor, do you have to maintain provider-patient confidentiality? When is it appropriate to allow patients privacy? When is it your legal and ethical duty to involve family members? How do you facilitate the care of a minor when you have to work with parents and still maintain patient trust?

Case Study:
The father of a 10-year-old boy calls your office to request assistance with an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) for his son who was recently diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He wants you to contact the school and to facilitate getting an IEP developed.

Resources to include:

Burns, C. E., Dunn, A. M., Brady, M. A., Starr, N. B., & Blosser, C. G. (2013). Pediatric primary care (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

Hagan, J. F., Jr., Shaw, J. S., Duncan, P. M. (Eds.). (2008). Bright futures: Guidelines for health supervision of infants, children, and adolescents (3rd ed.). Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.