I need an ER nurse to answer this question for me (pt with HIV related)

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Oct 30, 2015

Your triage assessment, of home medications etc....stays in the EMR medical record

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Oct 30, 2015

Yes, they almost certainly have your information from last visit in the EMR. Once a diagnosis is entered in our computer system, there it forever stays. Even an inaccurate diagnosis or one that's temporary, stays as a historical diagnosis once discontinued

ktwlpn, LPN · Oct 30, 2015

I'm new to this site, I hope I post this in the correct place.
Question: Does the ER keep medical info about you in the computer after each visit?
I'm currently an LPN and I'm in school to become a RN. I am HIV + and have been for years. I will try to make this as short as possible.
I went to the ER a few months ago for a headache. This was my first time in the ER in a very long time. When asked what medicine I was on, I told them the med and that it was for HIV. The lady kind of gave me a weird look and ever since then I've been paranoid of going to the ER or Dr's appointment.
Today I'm in the ER for another reason. I really didn't want to go because of my last experience but went anyway. When asked if I had any illnesses, this time I said no. The Dr. asked was I sure that I don't have anything to tell him, almost as if he knew I was lying. Before all of this, I saw the one nurse who checked me in mouth something to the other nurse before she took me in the back. A lady later came in my room to verify my insurance and address so I take it they still did have some of my information in the system from the last visit. Is it possible they put the HIV info in there too? I didn't even know ERs kept a chart on patients.
Maybe I'm just paranoid but it's only because of the way I've been treated after disclosing my HIV status.
Thanks in advance.

Of course the medical record is retained and anyone treating you MUST know your complete history.The first mistake you made was not dealing with "the weird look" you feel you received.Having had HIV for years you should be comfortable with your diagnosis and well able to deal with any prejudice you face.YOU have to take care of yourself,you can't avoid going to appointments.An appropriate reply would be"Oh,do you have a problem with that?" And then report it to management immediately.You should report it now....and straighten out your medical history while there and also call your insurance company.You may have caused yourself some issues there....

Have you gone to counseling? Joined a support group?

Please take care of yourself.You have nothing alto be ashamed of.Confront this and take every opportunity to educate these ignoramuses

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 30, 2015

It's called continuity of care. That's a critical piece of information and there are risks of drug interactions if you elect to withhold such important information. The "look" was more "why risk your life & safety by withholding important info" as opposed to "OMG he has cooties". Everyone has cooties. I'm not afraid of HIV. I'm afraid of unvaccinated school aged formites though.

acim · Oct 30, 2015

I'm sorry that you are feeling this way. As other posters said they do indeed keep records. They must. I'm with ktwlpn, this needs to be addressed with the hospital as well as with yourself...

Risan · Oct 30, 2015

I feel even more dumb now lol. Thanks for your words of encouragement though. I know they probably thought I was crazy for lying. I shouldn't have lied but I just felt so judged during my last experience. Felt like that was the only way I could contain my anxiety. Guess it's something I have to work on.

Risan · Oct 30, 2015

*poof

Dogen · Oct 30, 2015

Having had HIV for years you should be comfortable with your diagnosis and well able to deal with any prejudice you face.

I don't want to side track this conversation, but you don't get to tell people how they should feel about their diagnosis. Even if you have the best of intentions. Even if you have experience. Even if you happen to share that diagnosis. Everyone experiences their diagnoses in their own way, and telling them they're doing it wrong is rude. Not everyone wants to be a crusader for social justice, and not everyone is comfortable exposing stigmatized conditions and daring people to say anything. It's just not fair to the OP - or anyone, with any diagnosis - to say they should act in only one ktwlpn-approved way.

ktwlpn, LPN · Oct 30, 2015

I don't want to side track this conversation, but you don't get to tell people how they should feel about their diagnosis. Even if you have the best of intentions. Even if you have experience. Even if you happen to share that diagnosis. Everyone experiences their diagnoses in their own way, and telling them they're doing it wrong is rude. Not everyone wants to be a crusader for social justice, and not everyone is comfortable exposing stigmatized conditions and daring people to say anything. It's just not fair to the OP - or anyone, with any diagnosis - to say they should act in only one ktwlpn-approved way.

So it's better for the OP to walk away and try to avoid medical care in the furniture because she felt judged by this person?I am not saying she needs to "be a crusader for social justice" ,only that she make a stand for herself.I disagree with your post on many levels,it was not fair for staff to make her feel uncomfortable in any way.I offered her an alternative to walking away from the help she needs.That's my "ktwlpn" opinion.Thanks for your take

Dogen · Oct 30, 2015

So it's better for the OP to walk away and try to avoid medical care in the furniture because she felt judged by this person?I am not saying she needs to "be a crusader for social justice" ,only that she make a stand for herself.I disagree with your post on many levels,it was not fair for staff to make her feel uncomfortable in any way.I offered her an alternative to walking away from the help she needs.That's my "ktwlpn" opinion.Thanks for your take

No, what's best is to meet people where they're at, not to try and make them come to where you're at. The former is patient-centered, the latter is self-centered. You're right that it was wrong for staff to make OP feel bad, but it's also wrong to assume you know what's best for the OP. You seem to have good intentions, but that's not enough. What's right for you may not be what's right for them, and telling them their behavior is wrong implies a patronizing relationship in which you're the arbiter of what is and isn't good enough. That's not your role in anyone's life but your children, and OP is not a child. Even in the event that a person does need to change their behavior, browbeating them is the absolute worst way to encourage them to go about it. And it's rude.

P.S. OP appears to be male.

annie.rn · Oct 30, 2015

The "look" was more "why risk your life & safety by withholding important info" as opposed to "OMG he has cooties".

I hope that's all the look was. I still have a fair number of co-workers who are less than matter of fact when a patient's history includes HIV+. I do think there is still a considerable amount of judgement toward these patients but it may just be where I live.

To the OP: as others have said and as you now obviously realize is the right thing to do, please report your HIV+ status. I know it must be hard when you know there are people out there who are incredibly bigoted. If others treat you differently b/c of it, that is on them and their ignorant selves. Not you.

I am sorry for the way you've been treated in the past, whether real or perceived.

((Hugs))

(Edited to fix typos and add a thought)