HIPAA....the nightmare....

Nurses General Nursing

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Went to one of the mandatory HIPAA inservices we had the other day. I tell you this is about enough to make me want to get out of health care....I am all for patient's privacy and such but I think some of this has gone too far. We have been told at our hospital that we can't even inquire how a patient is doing, even if we had cared for that patient the day before. I like to know how the patients are doing...I really think it is great when the patient improves but I guess now I won't know anymore. I like to know that my nursing skills and care may have helped someone to regain their health or at least be able to cope with what has been handed to them. Is HIPAA going to make us a less caring profession? I don't about the rest of you, but it makes me feel like I have accomplished something when I know my patients are improving.....maybe I am just self-centered and conceited.

With all this HIPAA stuff, I am afraid to even look in my own patient's charts....wouldn't want to accidentally find something out that I am not suppose to know...I feel a major headache coming on....

Our privacy officer told us that complaints about HIPAA are going to be handled by the Office of Civil Rights, and that they are already receiving complaints about HIPAA violations and the law hasn't even gone into full effect......lawsuit city....wonder how many good healthcare professionals will leave their professions because of "unobtainable" goals for compliance?

You know, they could at least put in a bottle of lube into the HIPAA manual before they.....sex08.gif

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I don't think any one human can live up to HIPPA. Its sad that there are enough nosy people out there a crappy president thought this was necessary. I think if our motto would be taken more seriously it wouldn't be necessary. Doesn't "To do no harm " mean anything?

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Another HIPPA PIA-- tinted computer screens so that people nearby can't see the info that you are looking up on your pts. Some of us older nurses are really having a hard time seeing the computer screen now, especially me after several eye surgeries. I can barely decipher the data on the screen.

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We had our madatory HIPPA inservice too. I work in a clinic and did you know that the drug reps who call on our office know how many times and to who we write their rx. to?

So if they come in and say "well Dr. smith, are you using celexa these days?" They already know if we are or if we are not, and to whom these scripts have been written to.

And they(HIPPA) wanna gripe to me because I talked to the pts. wife and not the pt. on the phone about his NORMAL lab report.

Didnt think it would be a big deal since the wife was just in the office with the pt. the day before.:eek:

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Originally posted by andrewsgranny

We had our madatory HIPPA inservice too. I work in a clinic and did you know that the drug reps who call on our office know how many times and to who we write their rx. to?

I'm curious as to how this is done. I mean, how do they track this info?

We don't have to hijack the thread, if anyone knows this info feel free to PM me.

Heather

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

I think this whole thing has got out of hand. Basically they say if you are not on that floor/hall then you don't need to know info, what about CNAs that have to answer call lights? How are they supposed to know that so and so just fell? Or if I'm called to another hall for an emergency because that nurse is on break? Do I guess what is wrong...no then I have to read the chart...oh yeah I have time at that point to go and read everything on that person...and would I even have the right to read their chart? You know its like the government says..."lets slam the healthcare industry with more regulations and work, but decrease or not increase their help!"

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Well greer, it sounds to me like there are alot of loopholes for the hospital. In the case of the CNA, that info is required to deliver patient care. That CNA has every right to know about the patient's condition because they just may answer a call light in that room. That is the loophole that covers the hospital for that CNA to know these things.

If that weren't the case, we would have to listen to report in shifts. I would have no right to hear repost on a patient that isn't mine. (which, IMHO, I do, as I may be answering a call light for another nurse, or take a call from lab or a doc for them, etc.)

If it were an iron-clad rule, simply listening to report in the morning would be a violation.

Heather

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.
Originally posted by OBNURSEHEATHER

If it were an iron-clad rule, simply listening to report in the morning would be a violation.

Heather

I agree, we are supposed to cram ourselves into the small med room to get report, never mind that the residents are eating and they need nurses to be out on the floor and DR.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

WIl this apply to drugstores and pharmacists too. The other day I asked my hubby to get me refill on something. He said the pharm tech shouted over the counter that "your wife hasn't got anymore refills on her _______ you're going to have to call her psychiatrist to write another prescription." He was mortified!!!

Just so hapened it DID have refills but the pharmaceutical insurance would only cover so many, we would have to pay for the rest. But still.........Is this under HIPPA?

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I would think it would apply to all involved in healthcare and it's delivery P_RN.

Heather

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Originally posted by P_RN

WIl this apply to drugstores and pharmacists too. The other day I asked my hubby to get me refill on something. He said the pharm tech shouted over the counter that "your wife hasn't got anymore refills on her _______ you're going to have to call her psychiatrist to write another prescription." He was mortified!!!

Just so happened it DID have refills but the pharmaceutical insurance would only cover so many, we would have to pay for the rest. But still.........Is this under HIPPA?

The tech could have been in trouble under the HIPAA regs, but I think he also lacks just plain common sense and tact. He should of just said "You need to call your spouse's doctor to check on refills."

I asked about being able to pick up scripts for my husband and my elderly FIL and they said that would be allowed. If the pharmacy has suspicion that you should not be picking up the meds, they don't have to give them to you (which I would think would apply today also). It would have been a real PIA if I couldn't have picked up their Rx's. I get my hubby's filled at the hospital, so I just pick them up while I am at work, and my elderly FIL prefers that I or my hubby picks up his scripts for him at the local CVS.

I think this HIPAA thing is going to be one ole' huge headache before all is said and done.....(already is, and it is not even in full force yet :rolleyes: )...

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Originally posted by P_RN

WIl this apply to drugstores and pharmacists too. The other day I asked my hubby to get me refill on something. He said the pharm tech shouted over the counter that "your wife hasn't got anymore refills on her _______ you're going to have to call her psychiatrist to write another prescription." He was mortified!!!

Just so hapened it DID have refills but the pharmaceutical insurance would only cover so many, we would have to pay for the rest. But still.........Is this under HIPPA?

DOOD!!! i would so have his head on a platter..... :( hipaa or no hipaa..that's farging unacceptable!!!!

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