how did they know I was in the hospital??

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a pre-nursing student. My mother passed away in Dec. of '08 and I've always wondered something...I was in the hospital when she passed, I had just given birth two days prior to my fourth child. Anyway, the hospital called my husband at home to tell him that my mother was brought into the ER unresponsive and that she had passed. They wanted to know if they should go to my room and tell me, or if he wanted to come to the hospital and tell me. How did they know I was in the hospital? My mother lived alone so nobody could have told them this. Does this mean that she had to have been alert enough at some point to tell them where I was? How did they know I was in the hospital? This has always made me wonder...any ideas on how they knew this info?

Specializes in Trauma, Emergency.

oh bless your heart! all of you! i have not yet lost a parent but these comments are so heartbreaking. hugs to EVERYone :redpinkhe

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

it's..HIPAA..

Big Brother was watching you :op

Just wanted to say that I am so sorry for your loss. I completely understand why you are wondering. I lost my father on his 57th birthday, which happened to be 2 days before Christmas. I think when you lose someone you are close to and love like that you always wonder and even worry about their last moments. I know I still wonder if my dad knew he was about to pass away (it too was VERY sudden and he too was at the hospital the day before visiting a family friend!) I have no idea how they found you so I wont even guess but I just wanted to tell you I am so sorry and you are not alone...

it's..HIPAA..

Sorry:eek: I know the correct way I just let my fingers fly over the keys without thinking.

If the hospital has EMR they can look back to see who viewed your electronic chart if you are concerned someone saw private information. Privacy is a big issue. So sorry for everyone's loss! May God give you all peace during your hard times :)

Specializes in FNP.
Yeah, I totally understand that they could have found my number in her purse...but, they knew that I was hospitalized. When my husband got the call they didn't ask for me, they already knew that I wasn't there. It has always bothered me that "if" she was able to tell them this information, what else did she say to them? My mom and I were VERY close. Since she lived alone, anytime she felt sick or lonely I went to her house to sit with her...even in the middle of the night. It still bothers me that she was alone during her passing. I would have been there if I wasn't in the hospital. I'm sorry, this is just me venting my emotions. I have never really moved past this, even though it's been over 2 years. It's just always bothered me that I wasn't there for her last words, and it makes me wonder if she did tell them where I was...what else she might have said. I know that those questions will probebly never be answered, and that I need to move on. Sorry again, this is post is really not "nursing" related enough for me to have posted it.

Why don't you just ask them?

Specializes in Critical Care & Medical-Surgical floor.

I am so sad for your loss. I lost my Mom from cancer and a stroke in 2002. We were very close, she was my best friend. She was bitter at the end because she was not ready to die and died shortly after she was diagnosed. Her last words to me were not pleasant because of her anger at the situation. We never have long enough with the ones we love and the ending is not always what we expect. There are always regrets. You sound like you loved your Mom very much. I am sure you have some special memorys of good times you shared together. Your Mom would not want you to be sad. She would want you to have a good life and be happy without regrets about how she died since that was out of anyone's control. It sounds like you are looking for some closure. Maybe you could do a special memorial for her, donate to her favorite charity, plant a tree, display favorite pictures in a central place in your home ect. The pain never goes away but does lessen gradually with time. It is so hard losing your Mom. She will always be a part of you and I donot know you but somehow know that your Mom was always very proud of you. Thanks for the opportunity to share, lots of us have lost a parent and unless you have gone through it, you really donot know what it is like. It is nice to know that we are not alone.

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