The Department of Medical Social Services adopted the following visitation guidelines for vendor representatives who provide post discharge services/products to patients. These guidelines are to ensure that vendor representatives are identifiable by patients and comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including HIPAA, Patient’s Freedom of Choice Act and the Anti-kickback Statute.
1. Vendor representatives shall not detract from or interrupt departmental operations or patient care services, or have access to confidential patient information other than information necessary to provide services for patients referred.
2. Vendor representatives shall sign the UAB Health System Confidentiality Agreement Form, which will be kept on file in Medical Social Services.
3. Vendor representatives shall obtain patient information solely for the purpose of continued post-discharge care of the patient and only information that is pertinent to the continued care of the patient.
4. Vendor representatives having business with the Medical Social Services Department shall wear Vendor Identification Badges, which may be obtained through UAB Hospital HRM Support Services.
5. The Medical Social Services Department will provide the necessary paperwork required for obtaining Vendor Identification Badges.
6. Vendor Identification Badges must be renewed every 6 months.
7. Upon entering UAB Hospital vendor representatives providing discharge services to patients shall report to the Medical Social Services Office and sign a Vendor Log In Sheet stating Name, Company/Agency, Purpose of Visit, Name of Patient if seeing a referral, and Time In.
a. If a patient referral is generated from someone other than a Social Worker, vendor representatives still must first report to the Medical Social Services Office and sign the Vendor Log In Sheet prior to visiting a patient care area.
8. Vendor representatives shall visit patient care areas only if a patient referral has been made or if they are currently providing services to a patient and will continue to be the provider of services at time of discharge.
9. Vendor representatives needing to process a referral on a patient shall visit during business hours Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Vendor representatives who fail to comply with visitation rules will be reported to Hospital Administration and their credentials will be subject to revocation.
10. Vendor representatives wishing to make unannounced visits to the Medical Social Services Department to distribute information regarding products/services shall visit the department Monday – Friday between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Vendors reporting outside of stated hours will not be allowed entry to the Medical Social Services Department.
11. Vendor representatives wishing to provide CEU in-services shall schedule those with Medical Social Services. CEU in-services are the second Tuesday of each month 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
12. Vendor representatives wishing to provide in-services and other educational activities regarding products/services shall schedule those with Medical Social Services.
a. Breakfast in-services are limited to the first and third Mondays at 9:00 a.m. Luncheon in-services are limited to the second and fourth Wednesdays at Noon.
13. Vendor representatives shall not use fax machines in patient care areas but shall contact the Medical Social Services Office for assistance.