Referral Guide - Accord Corporation

CONFIDENTIALITY
ACCORD Corporation operates under ethical and legal obligations that restrict any transmission of
information without the explicit and voluntary permission of the customer.
General Considerations
Information contained within a participant/family’s file is extremely sensitive and confidential.
ACCORD Corporation board members, employees, and volunteers are expected to treat information
regarding agency business, fellow employees and program participants with the utmost respect and care.
When discussing a family member/program participant with a co-worker or collaborating agency ask
yourself:
• Does this person need to know this information?
• Is this information verifiable and accurate?
• Do I need to get the family’s permission to share this information?
• Can anyone else hear our conversation? (Should I close the door or move the discussion to a
more private area?)
Service Referrals & Release of Information
ACCORD Corporation employees may disclose information about program participants in the following
instances:
• To refer a participant to another ACCORD program, by informed consent, as approved by the
program participant when completing the ACCORD intake form.
• To refer a participant to services provided by another agency, by informed consent, when
authorized by the participant’s (or his/her legal guardian) signature on Consent for the Release of
Confidential Information form, which specifies the information to be released, the name of the
individual/agency to whom the information is being released, the purposes of the release and a
specified date for which the authorization applies.
• Upon request from another agency, when an informed consent is presented with appropriate
signatures and dates including the purpose for which the information will be used.
• Upon receipt of specified judicial orders following review and verification of such orders by the
agency’s attorney at the request of the appropriate Division Director.
• To the agency’s legal counsel in the event of litigation or potential litigation involving the
agency. This information is considered privileged and law protects the confidentiality.
• To the NYS Central Register when child abuse is suspected. Employees must follow specific
program practices to assure appropriate supervisory notification and approval.
• To local authorities if an employee receives information indicating that a client may be
dangerous to himself or others. Necessary steps may be taken to protect the appropriate parties.
All information obtained from a program participant to determine program eligibility and to meet
contractual data needs is confidential. This information will be used for contract compliance and
reporting purposes only.
ACCORD Corporation Referral Guide – Revised April 2011 2