Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room

[Anonymous]

This morning I was at a radiology center waiting to be called back for an MRI. When I arrived I noticed an elderly woman in a wheelchair who was with an older man (but not nearly as old as her) who had just gotten out of a nursing home shuttle. The elderly woman was still being checked in when I sat down after doing my check in process.

Once I sat down I began to hear the employee behind the counter asking the elderly woman some medical history questions. The man who was with her clearly did not know her well, so I assume he was a volunteer or something who was helping get this woman to this appointment. The elderly woman could not hear well at all so the employee had to stand up to look over the counter at her in the wheelchair and speak very loudly. The questions she was asking included, "how old were you when you started your period?", "how old were you when you began menopause?", "when did you get your hysterectomy", "how old were you when your first child was born?", "when were you first diagnosed with breast cancer?", etc. The employee repeated these questions 4-5 times each and even suggested some answers/age ranges. The elderly woman in the wheelchair was giggling nervously and apologetically while shaking her head quietly repeating "I am 93 years old". The man was doing great trying to help her but also was like a deer in headlights.

It was an uncomfortable situation for all involved - employee, helper man, patient, people in the waiting room, etc., and nobody's dignity was respected. I feel like they could have taken her to anther room, or just put "NA" in the answers or even better - the facility or family member or what have you who scheduled the appointment could have answered these questions online beforehand like I always do before my mamo. This certainly doesn't seem like best practices for the facility, but I am also not totally familiar with medical center protocol and also wonder if there were some HIPAA issues there. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This morning I was at a radiology center waiting to be called back for an MRI. When I arrived I noticed an elderly woman in a wheelchair who was with an older man (but not nearly as old as her) who had just gotten out of a nursing home shuttle. The elderly woman was still being checked in when I sat down after doing my check in process.

Once I sat down I began to hear the employee behind the counter asking the elderly woman some medical history questions. The man who was with her clearly did not know her well, so I assume he was a volunteer or something who was helping get this woman to this appointment. The elderly woman could not hear well at all so the employee had to stand up to look over the counter at her in the wheelchair and speak very loudly. The questions she was asking included, "how old were you when you started your period?", "how old were you when you began menopause?", "when did you get your hysterectomy", "how old were you when your first child was born?", "when were you first diagnosed with breast cancer?", etc. The employee repeated these questions 4-5 times each and even suggested some answers/age ranges. The elderly woman in the wheelchair was giggling nervously and apologetically while shaking her head quietly repeating "I am 93 years old". The man was doing great trying to help her but also was like a deer in headlights.

It was an uncomfortable situation for all involved - employee, helper man, patient, people in the waiting room, etc., and nobody's dignity was respected. I feel like they could have taken her to anther room, or just put "NA" in the answers or even better - the facility or family member or what have you who scheduled the appointment could have answered these questions online beforehand like I always do before my mamo. This certainly doesn't seem like best practices for the facility, but I am also not totally familiar with medical center protocol and also wonder if there were some HIPAA issues there. Thoughts?

I think you need to call and email the radiology center. You are right, they should NOT have been asking those questions out in the open. The woman't dignity was not respected. The front staff needs to be retrained. If the 93 year old was my mom or grandmother, I would be grateful for someone to speak up on her behalf, even if it's at a later time.

[Anonymous]

Poor old dear, I imagine lots of women in that generation would feel mortified.

On the one hand, that’s clearly not appropriate privacy wise and I feel certain is against protocol for the center. On the other hand, the person doing it probably makes minimum wage, has no benefits, and no job security-not that it makes it ok but the clinic is getting what it paid for, poorly trained staff and it’s not a lot of motivation to perform at their best, Sorry for the patient, though.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would an almost dead 93 year old be getting an MRI? What a waste of medical resources. No wonder our insurance costs are out of control,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would an almost dead 93 year old be getting an MRI? What a waste of medical resources. No wonder our insurance costs are out of control,

How do you know she’s almost dead? My great aunt lived to be 107.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poor old dear, I imagine lots of women in that generation would feel mortified.

On the one hand, that’s clearly not appropriate privacy wise and I feel certain is against protocol for the center. On the other hand, the person doing it probably makes minimum wage, has no benefits, and no job security-not that it makes it ok but the clinic is getting what it paid for, poorly trained staff and it’s not a lot of motivation to perform at their best, Sorry for the patient, though.

Doesn't matter. I'm tired of reading this excuse for poor service.

[Anonymous]

I mean, it’s not great. But also not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would an almost dead 93 year old be getting an MRI? What a waste of medical resources. No wonder our insurance costs are out of control,

You never got to meet my late mother.

She was in and out of her cardiologist’s office and demanded follow up appointments although she years prior had decided against having a life extending heart valve repair surgery. Still, she waffled and at age 90 decided she wanted the surgery after all but died of pneumonia - and with a specialist’s appointment scheduled for one week later.

[Anonymous]

You can report HIPAA violation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would an almost dead 93 year old be getting an MRI? What a waste of medical resources. No wonder our insurance costs are out of control,

MRI is a fixed cost, you alright have the equipment wether you do MRI for 10 people or 18 the cost isn’t going down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, it’s not great. But also not a big deal.

To whom? You? You don't matter. It might have been a big deal to the 93 year old woman. Also, you're an a$$

[Anonymous]

Op here - to be clear, I think she was getting a mammogram. I was the one waiting for the MRI. But again, I shouldn’t even know that information but I could infer it by the questions. I also wasn’t clear in my OP that the woman couldn’t remember the answers to these questions. She clearly had some memory loss as well as being hard of hearing.

I also think I might call the center. I was thinking about it and I see some of you have suggested it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would an almost dead 93 year old be getting an MRI? What a waste of medical resources. No wonder our insurance costs are out of control,

MRI is a fixed cost, you alright have the equipment wether you do MRI for 10 people or 18 the cost isn’t going down.

Don't bother trying to explain to someone who thinks like this. She's a waste of medical resources--people with no empathy and caring for their fellow humans don't deserve it either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, it’s not great. But also not a big deal.

It just seemed so unnecessary. I don’t even necessarily blame the employee because she clearly wasn’t enjoying the situation either. I guess I’m also sensitive to the preservation of dignity in healthcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would an almost dead 93 year old be getting an MRI? What a waste of medical resources. No wonder our insurance costs are out of control,

How do you know she’s almost dead? My great aunt lived to be 107.

Even if she’s got another 10 years to go, what sort of treatments would they do on a 93 year old? Chemo? Radiation?

Have you ever had a breast MRI? You have to lie face down with your boobs hanging out like you’re a cow waiting to be milked and stay still for what seems like an eternity while the machine goes “RATATATATATATAT” around your head. I found it awful as a relatively spry 55 year old. I can’t begin to imagine putting a 93 yo through that.