HSV and working.. need some help

Hi, I am sorry you are feeling so apprehensive when this should be one of the happiest times of your life.....about to graduate AND expecting a precious bundle of joy. My advice is to really look at the benefits your facility offers, if they are really great then why not take advantage of them, will it be a burden financially to continue to pay out of pocket in order to avoid people knowing your business? You seem to want the best possible care for you and your baby and although the possibility does exist that people may find out about your HSV status, you should do what you feel most comfortable with in your heart. If you feel more at ease going to this out of network doctor, and it won't create a financial burden for you, then by all means do whatever sets your mind at ease. Examine the possibility that your "business" may get out regardless of whether you go to an in-network physician or not, and heaven forbid you have a pregnancy that requires more involved physician/medical care than normal, would you be able to cover those additional medical costs out of pocket or would it be more beneficial to you if your insurance covered your care. It is a difficult decision that only you can make, and you should do whatever causes you the least amount of stress during this amazing time in your life.

On another level let me just say that although you may run into people with an unkind nature, for the most part I believe that people would not be judgemental of you in your situation but supportive, and I hope that you have those type of people available to you in and out of the workplace to help you cope if your information is discovered by co-workers and you receive any type of discomfort from them because of it......which I truly pray does not happen.

Congrats on the graduation and the new bundle of sweetness!!!

We had a nurse on staff at our hospital on my floor as a trauma/head injury. She did not want anyone to know so she was admitted under an alias. Find out if you can be admitted with a different name. That way if anyone decides to start poking around your record, they won't know you by name.

HTH.

Alright nurses I need some advice. I'm still a student getting ready to graduate in December. I have taken a job at a local hospital, and according to the benefits I must use their docs and facilities for all of my health care. I just found out that I'm pregnant and I have been living with HSV since 1998. In the past years I have had 2 outbreaks. I have no problem with my condition and I know the risks of having children. Here is the issue, with my medical I am going to have to give birth in the hospital that I work at. To ensure that me and my child get the best care possible I am going to disclose that I have HSV. Now I have been in report, and nurses we all make judgements. I am sooooo apprehensive about having people that I work with know about my health status. I know that we all are supposed to abide by HIPPA and patient confidentiality, but we all know that people talk. I really don't know if I can deal with this kind of information getting around the hospital. Please what would you all do? What advice do you have for me in this situation. As for right now I have seen an OBGYN from another facility and I have been paying out of pocket, I know the importance of prenatal care and have been doing the necessary actions to protect myself and my child. I have great benefits but I'm scared to use them at my facility. Please need some advice.... where do I go from here?

Contact your benefits department and ask about out of network cost and benefits for out of network providers. Explain to them that you have been seeing another physician and would like to continue the same. Maybe they have out of network benefits. I am sure this will cost you more, but your sense of security will be worth it. You do not have to tell the benefits office about your HSV.

Also, maybe you could ask your current physician's office if they can find out the benefits for you.

I know the hospital I work at suggest you do the same thing. If you choose to go somewhere else, it cost more. for example, If I use there PCP's it cost 25.00 for an office visit, but out of network it is 35.00. I really like my PCP who is out of network, so I choose to pay the extra. Try that. I am sure you will be able to work something out.

I hope this helps you. Best of luck. Let me know if any of this helps.

I also like the alas name idea. Maybe that would be an option. Then after the discharge from the hospital, you can tell your friends from work. that way they have no reason to snoop through your records.

BTW, do you work in the OB department? If so, maybe you can tell the doctor and work something out about not letting it be known at the hospital. As long as the MD knows, proper care can be given without everyone knowing.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, you have no idea how much they have helped. I spoke to the OBGYN in the hospital and they agreed to the alias, also because the network that I work at has several different hospitals in the area, he agreed to deliver me at one of the sites where I do not work full time. The only way now I will have contact with nurses I know will be those in the float pool. I appreciate everything!! Thanks all!!