|
Employee Assistance
Program |
ConfidentialityThe
confidentiality of our services is the cornerstone of EAP. We
protect it with utmost consciousness in the following ways:
-
Comply with all state and federal laws regarding confidentiality.
Confidentiality cannot be maintained in the following situations:
-
If we learn about abuse, neglect
or exploitation to children, elderly or incapacitated adults,
we are required by law to report it to the Maine Department of
Human Services.
-
If, in our judgment, an EAP
client is dangerous to himself or others, we will disclose
information to help protect a person from harm.
-
If we are required to present
records of testimony to comply with a court order, it is our
legal responsibility to comply.
-
If the client voluntarily signs
the Consent to Release Information to disclose information to
a specific third party, we will comply with the request.
-
If the client brings legal
action or formal complaint before a court or regulatory board,
we will use the clients’ records as part of our defense.
EAP counselors consult with each
other on some cases, and sometimes with a community licensed
mental health professional without using client’s name or
identifiers in order to provide the highest level of quality
services. We all remain bound to confidentiality in these
situations.
-
We
cannot confirm or deny who our clients are to anyone, including
spouses. Even with management referrals for work performance
concerns, we do not disclose any information, including
confirmation the individual came to EAP, without the client’s
written release.
-
Prior
to the beginning of the first session, clients receive a Statement
of Understanding (SOU) that reviews confidentiality (see #1 above)
and specifically identifies exceptions to the privilege of
confidentiality.
-
On
the intake form, clients are asked to provide their home and work
phone numbers and to indicate in writing whether they give us
authorization to call them at each of these numbers and leave them
a message. In cases where we do have that authorization, we might
leave a discreet message consisting of our first name and phone
number only.
-
While
we protect confidentiality, we cannot guarantee anonymity. For
example, while we avoid scheduling consecutive clients from the
same department, clients might meet someone they know in our
waiting room, as they might in the office of any other health
professional. Similarly, we cannot guarantee that no one will see
them approach the building or recognize their automobile in the
parking lot. Our Bangor location is used for clients with these
concerns.
-
We do
not book clients from the same department consecutively.
-
All
printed materials are shredded whether they are confidential or
might be perceived as being confidential.
-
EAP
office is located on the periphery of campus thus minimizing loss
of work time. Also, clients pass no other departments in order to
utilize our services.
-
If
necessary, clients can leave through a back door.
-
The
waiting room is private and away from the entrance to the building
thus limiting the possibility of being seen by other employees.
-
EAP
counselors do not acknowledge EAP clients in public unless spoken
to first.
|
|
