Anyone else being GPS tracked?

Nurses Recovery

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I am in Indiana and a new company just took over our monitoring program. We were sent an email last week that effective immediately we were to start using the GPS tool on our monitoring app to check at a meeting (NA, AA, NSG) and starting soon there would be a check out button as well. How in the world is this legal?? I feel like this is invasion of privacy and so does my counselor! I voluntarily signed up for this crap but I have not given permission to be tracked!

Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.
I am in Indiana and a new company just took over our monitoring program. We were sent an email last week that effective immediately we were to start using the GPS tool on our monitoring app to check at a meeting (NA, AA, NSG) and starting soon there would be a check out button as well. How in the world is this legal?? I feel like this is invasion of privacy and so does my counselor! I voluntarily signed up for this crap but I have not given permission to be tracked!

Ask a Corporate attorney. I would.

1 Votes

In practice the GPS thing isn't all bad. I know nurses who simply drive to the meeting's location check in and turn their phone off. They never attend the 12 step meeting they have no desire to be at which I think is a good thing. People shouldn't be forced to attend these meetings. It sucks for the people being forced there and is disrespectful to the 12 step believers who actually get something out of it. So far in my state nobody has been called on the carpet for this so I guess it works.

Now if they are tracking people 24 /7 outside of the monitoring agreement and without a court order they are in violation of that person's right to privacy and need their butt's sued and even perhaps criminal charges being filed (stalking anyone?).

To me this is simply a way to make life for the monitoring folks easier. I could care less about their laziness but if it means that people aren't stuck in these dreary Jesus-Rallies then I say YAY

3 Votes

My concern is that 3rd parties have access to your information. The main recovery program may state that they do not use the information or monitor outside of that time period, but that isn't the 3rd party. Some third parties involved with Nursing Recovery Programs have, in the past, been known to be a little sketchy. I would make triple sure that these third parties are on the up and up, with a clad tight legal statement (guarentee), that the information will only be used for the said purpose. If it is cool that someone may know your information and where you are going; carry on. Just because Nurses are in a Recovery program, does not mean we are swiped of our rights. Asking questions and understanding what is read and said, shows responsabilty thus has a better chance with compliance.

2 Votes

Hi. Nurses in NJ's RAMP program are being mandated to do GPS tracking of 12-step meetings starting next month. I too am concerned with the privacy issues, that were discussed in this thread. Looking for experiences good or bad from anyone in a monitoring program who is already using the GPS tracking app. My understanding is that we will need to log in and remained GPS tracked until we log out of the meeting, so this is not just a momentary snapshot GPS of a location.

1 Votes
Specializes in Med/Surg & Psych.

I can't speak for NJ but in Indiana after I check in I turn my location on my phone off and sometimes I completely turn my phone off too. It hasn't been an issue yet. Personally I like it bc I hated asking someone to sign a piece of paper for me.

1 Votes
Specializes in OR.

I used to turn the phone off. Sorry, not sorry. When they start paying my phone bill,.....

Besides what happened to "anonymous"??

Now that I am done with this mess, I will NEVER darken the door of any meeting again anyway.

5 Votes
Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

When I was with the program (it's been a few years since then) I attended online meetings and checked in via GPS. I then turned off location on my phone.

If it isn't in the contract (read the mice type very carefully) it isn't required. If you haven't consented to be monitored OUTSIDE of 12 Step meetings, turn off the GPS locator and turn your phone off.

Another avenue is to check the settings on the Affinity app that you use to check in, if you do so via phone. Look for third party monitoring. Affinity is the one, if I remember correctly, that keeps track of meeting attendance and checking in.

For that matter, ask your caseworker. Failing that, if it isn't in the contract, it isn't required.

2 Votes

this is what they do in PA.

1 Votes
Specializes in FLOAT RN I DID IT ALL EXCEPT DELIVERY AND OR.
On 8/27/2019 at 6:54 PM, Mom2boysNJ said:

Hi. Nurses in NJ's RAMP program are being mandated to do GPS tracking of 12-step meetings starting next month. I too am concerned with the privacy issues, that were discussed in this thread. Looking for experiences good or bad from anyone in a monitoring program who is already using the GPS tracking app. My understanding is that we will need to log in and remained GPS tracked until we log out of the meeting, so this is not just a momentary snapshot GPS of a location.

 

wow! surprised that's LEGAL!

Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
On 7/13/2018 at 10:24 AM, catsmeow1972 said:

I thoroughly disagree with the mandating meetings also for the same reason that Lisacar states. As someone stated earlier in the thread, there is legal precedent that says forced attendance in the criminal justice system is a violation of the separation of church and state (although given the number of court required attendance slips in the donation basket that meeting moderators have to sign, that precedent seems to be duly ignored.) Unfortunately, as much as it may seem, we are not in the criminal justice system. As it also seems, these programs also seem to get away with pretty much anything they want. Having said that, there is nothing in my contract that requires me to have a smartphone or to keep said smartphone's tracking software running. They may change the participant manual from time to time but requiring that big of a change seems like that would require a change to the actual language of the contract, which would require the signing of a new contract which ain't happening without my attorney's input. So there!

Also, can not several people in recovery meeting to perhaps do big book discussion constitute an AA meeting. Just because it does not appear on the Local AA chapter's monthly calendar does not mean it was not in fact an AA meeting. How do you log that on a GPS thingy?

Get a license defense attorney and discuss this with them. 

I used to attend online meetings at home. Back then affinity was not requiring check out, only a sign in. I believe it does say somewhere in the Big Book of AA that, "when one or more alcoholics gather to discuss recovery, it is a meeting". 

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care.

I’d throw my license out the window on my way to work at McDonald’s...$&@) that...

1 Votes

Yes, I’m in PA and we’ve been doing the gps tracking of our meetings for over a year now 

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