I bet they thought they hushed everything up.

[oramar]

Riding the bus today I heard two people who apparently work at a local hospital talking loudly about a serious error of omission committed by a group of nurses. According to what I overheard several people were fired. I noticed I wasn't the only one leaning forward and listening to the conversation. From the uniforms I saw them wearing I don't believe they were nurses, more likely housekeeping or maybe even maintenence. Isn't it wierd how stuff gets around. I don't even usually ride the buses but the weather scared me. What a couple of loud mouths.

[Teacher First]

If the OP had overheard protected patient information, I'm sure she would have told us. She didn't (tell us), because she didn't (hear that).

So what we have here is a post about two people who "apparently" work at the local hospital ("I don't believe they were nurses"), discussing other people who were fired for making a mistake involving a patient. Gossip ? Yes, it happens millions of times a day. Violation of law? Not as reported here. Noteworthy? Not.

By the way, it's "HIPAA", not "HIPPA".

Sorry for the typo, I am just submitting an opinion, no need to get testy.

[Batman25]

A good reminder for those that need it that a public conversation is never totally private. You never know who is listening. Zip the lip and be respectful of patients.

[latebloomer74, LPN]

This has to be a candidate for one of the silliest, most useless posts ever. What is the point ?

If the post was so silly and useless, why did you bother commenting on it?

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Please keep on topic

[steelcityrn, RN]

wow...this has been a funny thread!

[lifeistweet]

Two employees were fired for discussing a case in the OR while eating in the cafeteria. I'm sure some of their family was in the cafeteria.

[luvRNs, BSN, MSN, RN]

Re: I bet they thought they hushed everything up

It is so easy to fall into this trap. Really listen the next time you get into a hospital elevator. Research has been done on this one, and it is amazing what is revealed just riding up and down as staff go to lunch, breaks, and home. It has also been involved in litigation, unfortunately.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

re: i bet they thought they hushed everything up

it is so easy to fall into this trap. really listen the next time you get into a hospital elevator. research has been done on this one, and it is amazing what is revealed just riding up and down as staff go to lunch, breaks, and home. it has also been involved in litigation, unfortunately.

last year when my father was dying, i happened to be standing by the elevators with a large group -- we have slow elevators. my husband (who works at the same facility) happened by, and as i'd just talked to dad's nurses, i had a lot of information to share. i was telling dh that dad's troponin was this and his liver functions were that and he was making this much urine as we waited for the elevator. some visitor turned to me and chastised me for talking about patients in a public place. i was already under a lot of stress . . . dad was dying and i was working one last day before flying back home to take care of my mother, who has alzheimer's . . . i started to cry. dh was trying to smooth everything over when i said "i'm talking about my father. i'm allowed to do that." she was very embarrassed (as was dh) but i'm still angry to this day. even if i had been talking about a patient in this hospital, i had prefaced the whole discussion by saying "i just talked to dad's nurse and . . . " if she was going to eavesdrop, she should have listened to the whole conversation!

[luvRNs, BSN, MSN, RN]

Ruby,

I'm so sorry for your painful experience. That said, your conversation was family-related, and not staff-related. I was referring to staff talking about patients. One anecdote I have read identifies a staff member discussing her patient in the elevator. Unbeknownst to her, a distant family member was also present, and learned important information prior to immediate family.......