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Last week my uncle was in quarantine due to his roommate contracting Shingles. Protocol dictates that he was to be in quarantine for signs or symptoms. Luckily my uncle did not contract Shingles and was able to resume activities after three days. However, the health care proxy (me)was not notified that he was placed under quarantine.
When I asked about notification, they specifically cited the HIPPIA act. I understand they are not allowed to share other patients information. But, what about my uncle and for the health care proxy to know that he is being evaluated for a potentially contagious disease? Has anyone encountered a similar situation and how did the facility handle this?

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As his proxy, you should have been notified. If they don't have a copy then give them one. If your Uncle is competent, then have him fill out a HIPAA form saying the facility can talk to you. If he is mot competent, the proxy should be enough.
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I'm curious what would they have said if you or someone else dropped in for a visit?
When a child in a classroom contracts a transmittable condition the school generally will notify parents of all the classmates that there has been a reported case of ________________ in room XYZ.
It would seem logical that the facility would notify a room mate's POA / Health care proxy.
They might even want to broaden the area and say that "this wing of the facility has a confirmed case of ___________ and we are monitoring all residents and will keep you notified if there is a concern" Something like that is pretty broad and non descript.

It might be interesting for you to contact the Health Department and see what they suggest for notifying family or POA's of any transmittable condition. It could be anything from COVID, RSV, Scabies to shingles.
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When my mom was in care there were several episodes of a contagious disease in the nursing home. Families of residents were informed much like you mention, a potentially contagious illness has come to light near the resident, quarantine in effect for X days, we will call with updates. That’s not a HIPPA violation. In my opinion there’s much misunderstanding about what HIPPA is and isn’t. For example we handle our adult son’s medical and health insurance dealings and have been told (despite being on everything as his representative and him signing forms to include us) that a person won’t discuss an insurance claim due to HIPPA when it’s only pertaining to a bill being paid. Sometimes I find HIPPA to be a convenient excuse for things it never meant
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Everyone 30 and up has had chickenpox already, and Shingles by definition is a reactivation of the virus the person naturally acquired.
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Geaton777 Apr 15, 2025
PeggySue, immigrants applying for citizenship do not have to have the varicella zoster vaccination. It is not listed among the mandatory ones. I think there are other people in the US who don't get vaccinated and who have not had chicken pox, a small percentage. Those people can contract the chicken pox virus from those with active shingles. Source: https://www.uscis.gov/tools/designated-civil-surgeons/vaccination-requirements
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Facilities tend to air on the side of caution when it comes to HIPAA. I don't understand, though, why they couldn't inform you that your uncle was quarantined given you have signed POA documents.

Please make sure your uncle has the most up-to-date shingles vaccine. The most recent shingles vaccine, Shingrix, was approved by the FDA on October 20, 2017. This vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50 and older and is considered the preferred shingles vaccine by the CDC.
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Shingles itself is not contagious, but the varicella virus itself can be passed to someone who never had chicken pox.
Are you saying that someone had shingles and your Uncle was forced to be in the same room during the isolation process?
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AMZebbC Apr 14, 2025
Yes, his roomate has Shingles and my uncle was quaratined in the same room for three days to monitor for any symptoms. He has not shown any syptoms and has been "released" from isolating in the same room as the man with Shingles. They are still roomates but my uncle is able to have visitors and is allowed to freely move about the nursing home.

I was not made aware of the isolation and monitoring of symptoms for my uncle as I am POA medical/financial as well as the healthcare proxy. I understand that due to HIPAA and Personal Health Information laws, they couldn't notify me that another person had contracted the virus. But I find it odd that I wasn't notified of the concern and/or monitoring of symptoms for my uncle. He has had the Shingles vaccine but that over 15 years ago.

I would like to know if this is normal Standard procedure that I wasn't notified.
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