Abstract
The profession of social work has clear standards to follow in protecting confidentiality when a client discloses information in a psychotherapy session. These standards are examined in relation to an ever-increasing diresrefard for privacy as staff of managed care for mental health services and employee assistance programs gather and store information in computer databases, with the overall objective of cost-containment. Ethical principles are discussed and suggestions are made for safeguarding, the client's right to privacy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alperin, R. A. (1994). Managed care versus psychoanalytic psychotherapy: Conflicting ideologies.Clinical Social Work Journal, 22(2), 137–148.
Besharov, D. J., & Besharov, S. H. (1987). Techching about liability.Social Work, 32(6), 517–522.
Brown, F. (1994). Resisting the pull of the health insurance tarbaby: An organizational model for surviving managed care.Clinical Social work Journal, 2(1), 59–71.
Compton, B. R., & Galaway, B. (1994).Social work processes (5th ed.). Belmontm, CA.: Wadsworth.
Kutchins, H., & Kirk, S. (1987). DSM-III and social work malpractice.Social Work, 32(3), 205–211.
Landers, S. (1994, September). Managed care's challenge: “Show me!”NASW News, p. 3.
Levick, K. (1981). Privileged communication: Does it really exists?Social Casework, 62(4), 235–239.
Matthews v. The Prudential Insurance Co. N.Y. Law J., 4/20/87, p. 16, coll (Civil Court, N.Y. Country).
National Association of Social Workers (1980).Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Silver Spring, MD: National Association of Social Workers.
National Association of Social Workers. (1981).Standards for private practice of Clinical sosical work. In W. H. Cormeir and L. S. Cormier (1980).Intervewing strategies for helpers: Fundamental skills and cognitive behavioral interventions (3rd ed.). (pp. 604–607). Pacific Grove, Ca.: Brooks/Cole.
Reamer, F. G. (1993). AIDS and social work: The ethics and civil liberties agenda.Social Work,38(4), 412–419.
Schultz, E. E. (1994, May 18). Open secrets: Medical data gathered by firms can prove less than condfidential.The Wall Street Journal., pp. 1, 5.
Schwarz, G. (1989). Confidentiality revisited.Social Work 34(3), 223–226.
Watking, S. A. (1989). Confidentiality and privileged communications: Legal dilemma for family therapists.Social Work, 34(2), 133–136.
Whiting, L. (1988). State comparison of laws regulating social work. Silver Spring, MD: National Association of Social Workers.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davidson, T., Davidson, J.R. Cost-containment, computers and confidentiality. Clin Soc Work J 23, 453–464 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02191633
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02191633