Confidentiality

If you have never seen a psychologist before, you may have questions about confidentiality and terms like PHI or HIPAA. All the information that you share with Dr. Lee is confidential and to be considered Protected Health Information (PHI). That means anything that you share or discuss with Dr. Lee remains private unless you provide explicit written permission. However, he is also bound by law and has a duty to report when information is shared about abuse, harm against self/others, some legal proceedings, and when sharing information with your insurance company. There are also subtle differences when working with children, teens, and vulnerable individuals, which he will discuss with you at your first appointment.

When it comes to HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the most important takeaway is that it is a federal law in the United States that aims to protect the privacy of individuals’ medical information. Largely, it is to make sure that healthcare providers use ways to keep sensitive information (PHI) confidential and that it cannot be accessed or shared without proper authorization.

In short, we know from research that working with a psychologist is most effective and helpful when an individual trusts the psychologist and is able to comfortably share. Living on an island also has its own wrinkles. Dr. Lee can discuss with you about any other questions or concerns you may have about confidentiality.