Is It Wrong to Look at Your Own Medical Info?

Check your facility's HIPAA policy. Accessing your own information is most likely a violation.

Hi everyone.

Quick question...I work at the hospital where I recently had an MRI. Is it technically against most healthcare institutions' policy to pull up your own

chart on your work computer and read lab or MRI reports? I'm assuming

that it is, but it seems like it should be fair, being that it's your own info.

What do you all think?

Thanks:specs:

It is against hospital policy where I work. At our hospital, you must go through the same procedure every other patient has to go through to get the results of an image or a lab.

It's been against policy everywhere I've worked. Be careful, they do audit these things...

Oh wow. We all just got swabbed for MRSA and EVERYONE looked up their own results in the computer. No one ever said anything, and no one ever made any attempt to tell me my results. They're going to have to fire our entire staff if that was a problem.

I'm thinking that seems to be pretty typical. I am just wanting to read my MRI report so badly...

I have a mass on my knee and they did an MRI with contrast, last minute, at the suggestion of the radiologist on call, to see if my "tumor lights up with contrast." I wasn't scheduled for that part of the exam and I'm thinking they found something of concern.....

I'm just really anxious to hear what I'm dealing with, worried about osteosarcoma.

Oh wow. We all just got swabbed for MRSA and EVERYONE looked up their own results in the computer. No one ever said anything, and no one ever made any attempt to tell me my results. They're going to have to fire our entire staff if that was a problem.

One hospital I worked would do random audits on us to ensure compliance, but they also specifically targeted employees who had been treated or admitted, or had diagnostics done on site.

what kind of disciplinary action would have been taken upon those audited?

I'm thinking that seems to be pretty typical. I am just wanting to read my MRI report so badly...

I have a mass on my knee and they did an MRI with contrast, last minute, at the suggestion of the radiologist on call, to see if my "tumor lights up with contrast." I wasn't scheduled for that part of the exam and I'm thinking they found something of concern.....

I'm just really anxious to hear what I'm dealing with, worried about osteosarcoma.

I'm so sorry you're going through this; you're in my prayers, hun. Do try to be patient and resist looking at the results without going through the proper channels. You've got enough on your mind without worrying about your job too.

It's been against policy everywhere I've worked. Be careful, they do audit these things...

Yep, same with where I work. I've heard of people getting terminated for these kinds of thing .... looking up their own medical information or that of a co-worker.

what kind of disciplinary action would have been taken upon those audited?

I found out the hard way... I wasn't even thinking about HIPAA when I looked; a consultant had already shown me the printout of the report on my chart. After I was discharged, I had an argument with my doc regarding the result, so I looked it up--- 'aha! I was right!'.

Within the week I was called in to explain myself. I was lucky I didn't lose my job or get suspended. That was what was recommended by our compliance-nazi.

I work Sunday night. I didn't hear back from my physican today, so I'm hoping I'll get a call Monday to find out what the plan of action will be. It's all very unsettling. I probably should avoid reading about sarcomas online, it just adds to that panic in my chest.

Thanks for the kind words. I'll try to hang in there, sore knee and all, and work my Sun, Mon, Tues night shifts. It'll be so hard to not just peak. You're right though, last thing I need is management on my back.

Thanks for the positive vibes.

I have wondered about this issue myself. Its a HIPAA violation, but at the same time its not. If Its your own personal medical information how does that constitue a HIPAA violation? From the prespective of hospital policies, yes, there should be a formal system to LEGALLY view ones medical records. But I just never have understood how looking up ones own medical information could violate HIPAA?

:icon_roll