Sick To Death Of Hippa!

[RNIAM]

This is so stupid. Has anyone had the privilage of going to the Dr. lately? I have signed more HIPPA sheets than I can count, it has to stop. I do not want to walk into a Dr. office and have to sign that stupid piece of paper. I went for a test in another builing and guess what. I had to sign another sheet of paper. It is so insane. Who came up with this nonsense and who can you complain to. I go to the Dr. all the time and if your concerned about your medical information getting into the wrong hands then be more concerned with the receptionists sitting out in open ear shot of the pt's. I have heard more private medical info come out of their mouths than at any other time. It just seems like one more pain in an otherwise painful process. Ok, getting down off my soap box.

[MicheleRN2000]

HIPPA is so hypocritical!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We now have to ask family members who call to talk to pts, for a number that has been assigned to each patient. I asked several nurses this weekend if they have been asking for it, and they said no. Just something else for us to write down and keep tack of (as if we have time for that). If it's illegal to call a pt by name in the hallway, then why is it "legal" or ok to give report in the hallway where everyone can hear every word you're saying (pt, family, visitors, anyone walking in the hallway)?????? I just don't get it! Why now all of a sudden is there a privacy issue????

Also, we have older people working as volunteers at our information desk, and they have been known to call their friends and tell them that so-and-so is in the hospital...so as for the estranged family knowing about their son, that's how that could've happened. Of course, the nurse gets the blame!!!