Privacy and Confidentiality Limits   

Professional ethics require psychologists to keep everything discussed in the strictest of confidence.  Dr. Roberson has no intention of giving out any session information, nor any identifiable patient information.  However, patients may reveal anything about their sessions, but such openness is not advised. 

Confidentiality
Records are securely stored, but administrative and clerical personnel must work with some aspects of confidential file information in order to make data entries of addresses, diagnoses, and session dates, and to make file labels, obtain signatures, set appointments, type letters, mail communications, seek insurance benefits, copy records, bill insurance companies or other agencies, and to consult with collection agencies, and/or other similar services.  For instance, insurance companies are routinely contacted by office personnel to obtain session approval.  Also, treatment plans, records, and claims may need to be submitted to an insurance company.  Such communication is completed using U.S. Mail or is electronically sent using encryption.  A mental health diagnosis must also be released to insurance carriers.  Patients (or parents of patients) usually sign to release such information when they buy insurance.  Also, if payments are not paid as agreed, account holder names, addresses, phone numbers, and account information may be turned over to a collection agency or to court officials.  Thus, the office manager, an appointed staff member, or an outside administrative agency are allowed limited access to partial records to assist the therapist with clerical tasks. Office personnel are carefully trained in confidentiality procedures.  Another limitation to confidentiality comes up when therapists are legally required to act on behalf of any person in danger of physical or emotional harm, even if that danger is learned in confidential sessions.  For example, child abuse must be reported without delay.  Also, if a therapist is required to testify in court, or if records are subpoenaed, confidentiality may become quite limited.

Long-Term Storage of Records
Records are stored in a locked facility, and are kept for ten years, or ten years past the 18th birthday of the patient.  In the event of an emergency closing of Dr. Roberson's practice, due to illness, death, or other cause, Dr. Roberson has appointed a Custodian of Records, who will have access to all records in order to help close the office, transfer patients to other therapists, and to assist the patient and patient's family with the files.  Contact information will be stored on this website.

Also see: http://therapist.psychologytoday.com/34016