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1st Trimester
OrangeGrove
member
Furious at OBGYN Office ***UPDATED***
OrangeGrove
member
I am livid right now! I was waiting on pins and needles all day to get the results from my blood draw last Friday. I figured they were backlogged from the Monday holiday, so I didn't call. Also, the nursing staff is less than pleasant and I didn't want to be a bother, so I figured I'd call tomorrow if I didn't hear from them today.
Well, turns out they called my MOTHER and told her the results!!! She then told my sister (mom and I are estranged) who called and told me. Sister already knew, but mom didn't. I cannot believe this! It sounds like they said I am indeed pregnant, that all levels are on track, and that I need to come back for another check in a week.
I will be ripping the office a new one tomorrow morning. This is a huge HIPAA violation, right?! The only reason I can think they had her number was that is was listed as an emergency contact from years ago (I've been going there for 15 years).
This also makes me realize that I probably shouldn't be at a practice where I feel like a bother to the staff. It's okay for a patient to have questions about her own health!
*****UPDATE******
I called the doc's office first thing this morning and spoke with the office manager. She was very apologetic and sounded horrified. She told she would look into it and get back to me with the details. I remembered that the receptionist got my updated insurance information at the appt. and confirmed my correct phone number the day I had the blood drawn.
Later in the day she called and said that she investigated my records and talked to the nurse who called my mom. I definitely had not designated her as a proxy or even an emergency contact (they confirmed they had nothing on file authorizing release of info to her - or anyone for that matter). The only explanation they could offer was that it was a major technical mishap. They think that when they recently converted to electronic records my mobile slot was somehow populated with my mom's # and my own cell phone # moved over to the "primary" phone # slot. The nurse called the number in the mobile slot and stated something to the effect of "This is Maria from Dr. Smith's office with OrangeGrove's test results" and my mother (who is manipulative and crazy) didn't stop them and said something to the effect of "yes, go ahead" and the nurse told her my stats. Why my mom's number got pulled into my seperate chart remains a huge mystery. When I first went to the office I was a minor, so maybe her number was attached to my record at one time, and she is also a patient of another doctor in the practice - so maybe someone confused our records at some point bc we have the same last name.
It was really the perfect storm - any normal person would stop the nurse and say, "no - wrong number, call my daughter" - but that she didn't. I can forgive the wacky technical error, but not my mom. As far as she knows I am still waiting for my results! She made my sister promise not to tell me, but she did of course. My sister asked our mom if she stopped the nurse and she got defensive and lied, She said it was delivered on a voicemail, which the office stated they don't give results in (just a message instructing call back).
I plan on confronting my mom next time I see her in person and am trying not to stew too much in the mean time.
Thanks for your input and support, guys - so glad I could share this crazy-a$$ mishap with people who understand the sanctity of the information.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Furious at OBGYN Office ***UPDATED***
We have the same surname (didn't change mine after marriage), but very different first names. It's unclear whether they told her directly or left a voicemail because when my sister confronted my mom and told her she should have told the nurse to stop and that they had the wrong number, she became defensive and said it was a voicemail. My mother has a history of lying and manipulation so it is difficult to know what form the information came through in. I want my sister to get ahold of her phone and check.
Definitely a violation and you have every right to be upset.
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
There is no way they left a message. I have NEVER had a doctor's office leave a message with test results. AT MOST, they will ask you to call them back. I hate to say it, but your mother is probably lying. My doctor's office won't even leave a message to confirm an appointment - they just call back later.
I would definitely report this to the office and make sure they have your correct phone number on file.
I would not only be contacting the office manager, but taking it a step further from there. That is a VERY CLEAR violation.
As far as they can't leave messages.... yeah, they also can't also tell others info on the phone, yet here they did. That being said, my SO's Dr. have been known to leave messages on his cell phone. Then again, my SO has signed a waiver that it is ok to leave a full message on his cell phone voicemail due to his job and not being able to always contact the Dr. back.
Also, you can sign forms that give the Dr. rights to talk to other people about your case. I have those signed so my SO can call the Dr. and find out info on any of the kids or myself (I do not keep secrets) at any time.
If it is your emergency contact sadly it may not be a hipaa violation. (you may have filled out a form okaying them to cal that number years ago with test results)
First off - get it changed NOW. Then you can evaluate leaving the practice.
and yes, my doc is fine with insanely stupid questions... so... you shouldn't feel like a bother even if you call daily.
This. Every dr I've been to lately has had me update a form saying who information could be left with, if I was ok with detailed voicemails, etc.
I am thinking this as well.... offices are VERY careful not to violate HIPPA. Not saying that it couldn't be their mistake but most likely you signed that is ok to leave that information at that number and you forgot
WHOA.... BIG BIG no no. BIG! Go after them and if that wasn't enough to leave a practice, the fact that their staff is rude is the nail on the coffin.
They woudl not leave a message because that is just as bad. With FERPA (educational records version of HIPPA) we never leave messages either.
This. I use to work in a clinic and they have you fill out forms asking if there is anyone who it is ok to discuss test results with and if it was never updated then it may not be the clinics fault. HOWEVER, they should have called you first regardless.
This is a serious HIPPA violation and I would not only bring it up to the clinic manager but also to the patient services rep (one who deals with patient complaints) and possibly the clinic president. I am sort of relentless when it comes to things like this. If they give you the run around and you really dont want to let it go, contact a lawyer.
That is definitely a huge HIPAA violation! I would change doctors while you are at it. They should never give health related information out to anyone but you. Your emergency contact is in case of an emergency!
If it's an emergency, can see them calling her if it's a "We cannot get ahold of your daughter can you make sure she calls us?" thing. Not a "hey here's all her private information! Later!"
Or, what the pp said.