Pos UA 29w preg

[UTHSC_Bound, BSN]

Hi all

Just looking for some opinions hopefully quickly.

I am an ambulatory nurse that is best described as Medical Case Management - its a lot more but...

I have a pt who was taken in to county by a case manager based on some health complaints to discover she is 29 weeks (according to US) and positive UA for cocaine. I have knowledge of this because we use county electronic health record for our people - I saw the lab results in other words.

My question is - am I supposed to be reporting to appropriate authorities? I was not present for any medical treatment or diagnostics.

TIA!

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I'm confused. Report what? The pregnancy or the positive lab? Report to whom?

Won't the case manager do any necessary reporting? What does "taken in to county" mean?

Be careful not to violate HIPAA. Do you have need to be in this patient's chart (since I really don't understand the scenario)? You admittedly weren't present for medical treatment or diagnostics.

[mkk99]

This is going to depend on the state you practice in. Some states have laws requiring reporting of positive drug tests in pregnancy, others only if pt. tests positive intrapartum or if the infant tests positive.

[UTHSC_Bound, BSN]

@mkk mine actually has both. They open the case prenatal and test both at birth

@roser I'm within my bounds....without getting too in depth, this is outpatient medical management to improve outcomes. County=county hospital (read low income). The fact that I wasn't present for treatment or diagnostics is the basis of my question. The case managers (social) do not have a medical background. Although they are licensed by the state, and have the same knowledge regarding the patient as I do, they believe this lack of medical background is basis to not report.

The question really is if I was not involved in the diagnostics do *I* need to report. The NP I'm under says no, but I want to do the right thing so thought I would throw it out here. I realize its an unusual situation.

thanks!