Client Confidentiality

[everydaymiracles]

Hello there - am on a roll today (well have one child and the other two are glued to the tv and the Incredibles so mummy has some time!

I gues my question has two parts....
1. Do you have clients sign a Confidentiality agreement? I know DONA has one - does CAPPA have one too?

2. More for other doulas - do your clients look at you blankly when you show them the DONA one? Is there a Canadian equivalent to HIPPA?

I am thinking of creating my own confidentiality agreement (don't want to reinvent the wheel but want it to answer questions, not solve them!)

This kinda applies to this ? - do you offer to leave the room when a client is admitted to the hospital and the nurse is taking a quick medical history? Most clients will have disclosed history pertaining to their birth but some may not have.

Am interested in what you think! R

[fearlessbirth]

I personally use the DONA form but think anyway you revise it for yourself would be fine. And (to address the part about registration at the hospital) when they sign it I be sure and tell them that the ONLY person I would ever share any information with is the backup doula (if applicable) and this goes for any personal or medical history information that comes up at the hospital. That way if they are uncomfortable with me being in the room during that time they can let me know then (when they are signing it) or if they are indifferent they will know their business doesn't leave the room.

In my experience, the moms assume I am always going to be present so there aren't really any 'secrets'. KWIM?

[tlcdoula]

I created my own and have parents sign it. I have never had anyone freak out or even question it.

[Matrescence]

I'm so bad about this... I was having my clients sign the DONA one but have just gotten to a point where I don't do a lot of paperwork and have let this slide... I've thought about incorporating something like this into my agreement instead of having a separate form to sign...

[fearlessbirth]

I can't WAIT until I'm certified so I don't have to do all that paper crap! Lol I mean, I will probably do like you, LeAnne and incorporate a confidentiality form in with the contract but I feel like all these records I have to keep for my cert and inhibiting me from doing my best job. I'm just so preoccupied with the ME part of it sometimes that I feel bad and have to consciously not make it about ME. Lol It will be nice to give my mamas 100% (not that I don't, really, but I will love not having to worry about keeping track of checks and remembering to hunt down nurse or doc for evals before they leave).