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NEDA TOOLKIT for Coaches and Trainers Confidentiality issues Issues of confidentiality can be difficult when dealing with disordered eating in athletes. You may seek accurate information about the health and well-being of your athlete and find you are not allowed access to the same information (medical records) or disclosure as that of legal guardians. A useful resource for coaches who have an athlete with an eating disorder is the NCAA Coaches Handbook: Managing the Female Athlete Triad. Here are some tips on how to fulfill your job as coach while honoring confidentiality: • Familiarize yourself with HIPAA (the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which protects the privacy of insured patients. Healthcare professionals are not at liberty to talk with you about an athlete’s condition because they are legally and ethically bound to protect confidentiality. Confidentiality is important because it allows the athlete to be honest with their treatment team, knowing that a provider can only release information to others with the written consent of the athlete. • Consider asking the athlete if he or she feels comfortable sharing their treatment progress with you. If they would rather keep their treatment/ recovery private, do not be dismayed. • Be willing to communicate your thoughts/ observations to the treatment team even if you are not formally included in the treatment planning. This can be tough for a coach, especially if you feel you know your athlete well. Often, however, you may have important information for the treatment team on the health of your athlete and it is important to convey that, invited or not. Even though the healthcare professionals treating the athlete cannot talk with you about his/her condition or treatment, they can listen to what you have to report. • Be accepting and understanding of the complexities and challenges of treating an eating disorder. Encourage and support appropriate treatment. Page  | 34