Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32. Professions and Occupations § 32-1855.03. Health care institution duty to report; immunity; patient records; confidentiality

A. A health care institution as defined in § 36-401 or a subscription provider of health care shall report to the board any information it may have that appears to show that a physician may be guilty of unprofessional conduct or may be mentally or physically unable safely to engage in the practice of medicine. A health care institution or subscription provider of health care that provides information to the board in good faith is not subject to an action for civil damages as a result and, if requested, the board shall not disclose its name unless the testimony is essential to the disciplinary proceedings conducted pursuant to § 32-1855. The board shall report a health care institution or subscription provider of health care that fails to report as required by this section to the institution's licensing agency.

B. The chief executive officer, the medical director or the medical chief of staff of a health care institution or subscription provider of health care shall inform the board when the privileges of a physician to practice in the health care institution or subscription provider of health care are denied, revoked, suspended or limited because of actions by the physician that jeopardized patient health and welfare or when the physician resigned during pending proceedings for denial, revocation, suspension or limitation of privileges. A report to the board pursuant to this subsection shall contain a general statement of the reasons the health care institution or subscription provider of health care took an action to deny, revoke, suspend or limit a physician's privileges.

C. Hospital records, medical staff records, medical staff review committee records and testimony concerning these records and proceedings related to the creation of these records are confidential and are subject to the same discovery and use in legal actions only as are the original records in the possession and control of hospitals, their medical staff and their medical staff review committees. The board shall use these records and testimony only during the course of investigations and proceedings pursuant to this chapter.

D. Patient records, including clinical records, medical reports, laboratory statements and reports, any file or film, any other report or oral statement relating to diagnostic findings or treatment of patients, any information from which a patient or the patient's family might be identified or information received and records kept by the board as a result of the investigation made pursuant to this chapter are confidential.

E. Nothing in this chapter or any other provision of law relating to privileged communications between a physician and patient applies to investigations or proceedings conducted pursuant to this chapter. The board and its employees, agents and representatives shall keep confidential the name of a patient whose records are reviewed during the course of an investigation and proceedings.