My voluntary alcohol detox was reported to the board..?

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So, I took myself to alcohol detox in February 2019. I asked every person that I encountered during the process if it were confidential, and I was promised it was protected information. When I renewed my license in August of 2019 I answered "no" to the, "have you ever received treatment for substance abuse...", question, cause I assumed it was confidential. October rolls around and I hear from the Ohio Board of Nursing investigator asking why I was deceptive and he knew details from my detox. Now im roped onto IOP, aftercare, 5 years of AA and drug screens. I don't understand how this happened?? Is there anything I can do? I feel so hopeless and angry..  ?

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First of all, I just want to say how sorry I am that this happened to you! EVERYBODY deserves a confidential way to get treatment before it impacts their job. You made the right choice and I’m sure now it prob feels like you are being punished for it. 

I’ve heard other nurses here mention that it’s possible for someone at a treatment center to rat a nurse out who enters a program, but the idea of it just seems so cruel. You have a right to HIPAA privacy like anybody else and unless you told someone in treatment you were doing something highly unethical on the job and breaking the law, I don’t see how they shouldn’t be held liable for breaching confidentiality. I would talk to an attorney about it. I found my attorney on TAANA.org. 
 

For what it’s worth, I want so say I’m proud of you for getting help, I’m sorry this is happening to you know, and you deserved better. Nonetheless, you can get through this with your head held high.

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Specializes in general.

Sending you big big big hugs! Get that attorney ASAP and keep rocking.  You got this!

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Specializes in Primary Care, Military.
On 12/30/2020 at 10:22 PM, MsLuckyWon said:

So, I took myself to alcohol detox in February 2019. I asked every person that I encountered during the process if it were confidential, and I was promised it was protected information. When I renewed my license in August of 2019 I answered "no" to the, "have you ever received treatment for substance abuse...", question, cause I assumed it was confidential. October rolls around and I hear from the Ohio Board of Nursing investigator asking why I was deceptive and he knew details from my detox. Now im roped onto IOP, aftercare, 5 years of AA and drug screens. I don't understand how this happened?? Is there anything I can do? I feel so hopeless and angry..  ?

I know this is late and I apologize, but if you notified the facility you went to that you're a licensed nurse they likely reported it while you were there. The facility I worked for that treated both psychiatric illnesses and also ran detox would report all licensed individuals to their boards, even if the stay was voluntary. This wasn't just for detox admissions, but even for mental health admissions such as suicidal ideation, depression, etc. Any inpatient psychiatric admission where the patient identified as being a healthcare worker or other licensed individual meant the Admins were reporting it automatically. Many other facilities have the same policy. 

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On 3/31/2021 at 9:25 PM, HarleyvQuinn said:

I know this is late and I apologize, but if you notified the facility you went to that you're a licensed nurse they likely reported it while you were there. The facility I worked for that treated both psychiatric illnesses and also ran detox would report all licensed individuals to their boards, even if the stay was voluntary. This wasn't just for detox admissions, but even for mental health admissions such as suicidal ideation, depression, etc. Any inpatient psychiatric admission where the patient identified as being a healthcare worker or other licensed individual meant the Admins were reporting it automatically. Many other facilities have the same policy. 

It seems like you are saying that in order to report these licensed professionals you relied on them self reporting that they were in fact health care professionals, is that right? 

I ask because I wonder if entering treatment and not mentioning profession is actually enough of a way to keep one's license safe, and thus treatment confidential. 

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Specializes in Primary Care, Military.
On 4/3/2021 at 1:07 PM, K. Everly said:

It seems like you are saying that in order to report these licensed professionals you relied on them self reporting that they were in fact health care professionals, is that right? 

I ask because I wonder if entering treatment and not mentioning profession is actually enough of a way to keep one's license safe, and thus treatment confidential. 

I, personally, never reported anyone. I was just a staff nurse working in the facility. I found the practice uncomfortable. I can't say whether admin would run someone's name to check if they were licensed or not. I do know that there was a time or two that they would come to the unit fussing about a patient they had found out was licensed some way or another that we didn't catch in the admission intake and had reported. They did demand that we were sure to ask about such things. I can't say for sure if not disclosing is a 100% foolproof way to keep it confidential. I honestly do not know how far facilities are willing to go. As a staff nurse, I literally took people at their word and moved on. I was not on a witch hunt and really wanted no part in it. When patients were meeting me, they were already having a rough enough time in their lives. 

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Specializes in Med/surg, LTC, skilled, telemetry, psych.

I self reported to the board for drinking during covid and going through detox, and never drinking at work and they tried to force me into that 5 year program.  Even after they deemed it situational abuse from my psychological evaluation.   

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Specializes in Mental Health.

I'm sorry. I don't have any good advice for you but am angry for you. This kind of thing prevents people from getting the help they need when it comes to mental health and addiction.

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I agree.  Now, I have only a handful of people willing to go to the board for me.  Most of them are CNA’s but only 1 nurse, because they don’t want to get involved with the board.   It’s crazy how quickly people turn on you that once sang your praises of how great of a nurse you are.   
 

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Specializes in Psych.

Boy, what a bunch of BS. I would get an attorney and fight like hell.

 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

An attorney might not be helpful as there is an exception to release of PHI where the treatment provider has an honestly held belief that the protected person may present as a danger to the general public.

I used to know which paragraph it was in, but don't remember now. 

Hppy

 

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I work in a psychiatric hospital and from time to time we get nurses, cops, lawyers ect in for various reasons. I have never once thought about punishing them because I have been in the program and I applaud them for getting help. Now, if they confess to doing something extremely unethical then my hands are tied. Some people try to hide it but they slip up and say something that that is a dead giveaway they are in healthcare. If they are of sound mind and judgement I do pull them aside and let them know I know and remind them that we are under the same governing body and held to the same standards of reporting. They usually get the hint and are usually super paranoid about it. I have never once thought about reporting someone. 

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