SS,
I cleared that before hand, as I am well aware of HIPAA laws. And he did tell me it was OK. In fact he started crying when I told him I knew someone who could help him.
Actually what I did was a "Bridge The Gap," which you may be aware of. The local H& I committee keeps those forms in the facility, and I just had him fill out one of those. I plan on giving my friend the form this weekend. The patient will have been released by then.
And no, she was freaking out about anonymity, not HIPAA, because it was her anonymity she was talking about, about how she hates it when her anonymity is broken. It's like she's an AA member and works at this place where alcoholics who cycle in and out of AA meetings show up. What does she expect?
Anyway, I appreciate you bringing that point up. I see people I know all the time either in detox or in our outpatient facility, so I do keep on my toes regarding the law here.
Jim