How the Breakroom protects patients

Our rules

• No patient names, initials, photos, dates, room or bed numbers, or anything else that could identify a patient or resident.
• No diagnoses or details unusual enough to identify someone, even without a name.
• No facility names, and no names of coworkers unless they've agreed.
• Nothing that humiliates a patient, resident, family or coworker. We laugh with healthcare, not at people.
• We edit for length, clarity and privacy, and you approve the final version before it's published.

How a story gets published

1. You submit it through the form. You can choose to be credited by first name and role, or stay anonymous.
2. A person at SHIFTit reads every submission. Anything that could identify a patient is removed, or the story isn't published.
3. We may edit for length and clarity. You approve the final version.
4. Then it's published in the Breakroom.

Why this matters

Patient information is protected by law and by professional ethics. Even without a name, details like a date, a room or an unusual case can identify someone. If you're a student, HIPAA basics for students explains the rules you follow on rotation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

See something that shouldn't be here?

Tell us through the Contact page and we'll review it right away.