Was this a A Violation of Hipaa?

[Trekfan]

On Monday I went to see a new doctor , and after driving 45 min i got to the office . I walked in and gave the nurse my name , the nurse looks at my guide dog and tells me to go outside and get my driver to help me with my paperwork and to put my guide dog in the car . Well I tell the nurse NO I will not put my guide in the car and ask her why my driver needs to do my med . Paperwork ? She tells my they are busy and can not help me ..

Well fine so off i to try to fine someone to help me , and after some begging I got my driver to come in a fill out the paperwork , so we are now siting in the waiting room and my driver is reading out lould all of my meds, asking my when my last pap was , did I have - , Reading my ss number , and so on I am getting really upset because the hole waiting room is just looking at me .

Then a 2nd nurse comes out and tells me that the doc . Is scard of dogs and does not want to see me with my guide . At this point I had had it I just left . I should have just made them see my with the dog but I saw no point in that because you will not good care .

[MyGranniePanties]

Thanks for bumping either way :) any updates on this post?

[jelly221,RN, MSN]

Sorry, I stereotyped your babies in my post :sofahider: I love animals, and your babies are adorable! And I know an animals behavior is determined by it's trainer/owner.

No worries, I knew what you meant in your original reply.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

I think this is a HIPAA violation, though maybe not directly. If someone cannot speak English we are supposed to have a translator come help with assessment, not utilize the help of a family member. This is for the purpose of confidentiality. How in the world could having a driver and all of this information shared aloud in the waiting room have been thought to be acceptable?

If someone cannot help you with your paperwork then this is NOT an office of medical professionals you want working for you

I agree it's a HIPAA violation as the patient was forced to verbally divulge private and protected information surrounded by members of the general public.

If they had put the OP in a private room that would have been somewhat better, but would still have resulted in the patient being coerced into divulge protected information to someone not involved in the delivery of care (in order to receive services)

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

What about stuffing the dog in the car? Even in March, depending on the part of the country, it could be deadly before the paperwork was done.

Trek, what's happened with the doc's office ???