Doctor will not correct mistakes in my chart

[Anonymous]

If you have read any, even one, of your husbands notes that is a HIPPA violation and he could and should be fired. That is private protected health information and not for your eyes. Either you and your husband need massive reeducation or you are lying.

[Anonymous]

Can you give me a real example of how this will impact your life? Not just “insurance” or that you have anxiety about it or that it’s wrong or that you have a heart condition. I’m curious what the tangible impact is if this incorrect information remains on the record? Like what is the real world consequence?

I have a child with complex medical problems and have found 2 things to be nearly universally true:

1. There are mistakes in doctors notes. Sometimes big, sometimes small, but always at least 1 for every visit;

2. Doctors never read each other’s notes. Even when I really want them to. Even when it would help. I think the only person who reads the notes is me. What am I missing? What difference does it make?

[Anonymous]

We absolutely do read each others notes. I read other doctors’ notes for almost every visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have read any, even one, of your husbands notes that is a HIPPA violation and he could and should be fired. That is private protected health information and not for your eyes. Either you and your husband need massive reeducation or you are lying.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We absolutely do read each others notes. I read other doctors’ notes for almost every visit.

Pp here. I wonder why our docs don’t. We see a neurologist, developmental pediatrician, pediatric geneticist, palliative care specialist, pediatric GI. I often go to great lengths to ensure they have all the relevant documentation well in advance of the appointment, only to walk in and have them be completely clueless about what my child’s diagnosis even is.

And I generally like these doctors, I figure it’s just part of the system they operate in and the limited time they have given the workload.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This doctor sounds like a piece of work

Name and shame

I think this poster has also created another post. I wouldn't assume she's an easy patient.
The notes are written from the dr's point of view and she's responsible for them. You can add your own note too, OP. But you don't get to dictate what she writes.

Yes, I recognize the OP. However, it doesn't mean she's wrong. OP, change doctors, but before that add a letter to your file with a list of corrections. It may seem like insignificant details to others, but if they matter to you, you can do that. My husband is a doctor and always very precise in his note taking. That sort of thing wouldn't fly with him.

My husband is also a doctor. How do you have any idea what his note taking is like?

In my case, because we are both research scientists, worked in the same lab, and we know each other. Actually I've known plenty of doctor's spouses (men and women, not even in STEM fields) who knew a lot about how their spouse wrote up exam notes and how they worked as doctors. I don't know why you don't, but you'll have to accept that your experience is just yours.

As another person already answered, HIPPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you give me a real example of how this will impact your life? Not just “insurance” or that you have anxiety about it or that it’s wrong or that you have a heart condition. I’m curious what the tangible impact is if this incorrect information remains on the record? Like what is the real world consequence?

I have a child with complex medical problems and have found 2 things to be nearly universally true:

1. There are mistakes in doctors notes. Sometimes big, sometimes small, but always at least 1 for every visit;

2. Doctors never read each other’s notes. Even when I really want them to. Even when it would help. I think the only person who reads the notes is me. What am I missing? What difference does it make?

I'm the OP. I work with medically complex children birth to three. I read notes that other providers write on a daily basis.

I don't need to list out examples of how this will effect my life, but for starters, it will cause other doctors to make assumptions about my health and lifestyle habits.
Having something on my chart that states a former doctor diagnosed me with a condition that I DO NOT HAVE is a problem.
I went off a medication a long time ago (not a month ago) as this doctor states. I don't need to go into detail, but that is also important information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you give me a real example of how this will impact your life? Not just “insurance” or that you have anxiety about it or that it’s wrong or that you have a heart condition. I’m curious what the tangible impact is if this incorrect information remains on the record? Like what is the real world consequence?

I have a child with complex medical problems and have found 2 things to be nearly universally true:

1. There are mistakes in doctors notes. Sometimes big, sometimes small, but always at least 1 for every visit;

2. Doctors never read each other’s notes. Even when I really want them to. Even when it would help. I think the only person who reads the notes is me. What am I missing? What difference does it make?

NP. I have a rare disease and have seen numerous specialists, with shorter and longer visits for them. I have mostly found this to be true, too. Sometimes a doctor will read another doctor's notes but generally only when some specific question has come up, not before an appointment. And yes, there are various incorrect diagnoses and mistakes in my chart. It's never even come up. Not an issue. Doctors look first at the patient in front of them, and the current issue, IMO. Only look at past history if there's a question that comes up. Treatment, insurance? That's all about the presenting patient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you give me a real example of how this will impact your life? Not just “insurance” or that you have anxiety about it or that it’s wrong or that you have a heart condition. I’m curious what the tangible impact is if this incorrect information remains on the record? Like what is the real world consequence?

I have a child with complex medical problems and have found 2 things to be nearly universally true:

1. There are mistakes in doctors notes. Sometimes big, sometimes small, but always at least 1 for every visit;

2. Doctors never read each other’s notes. Even when I really want them to. Even when it would help. I think the only person who reads the notes is me. What am I missing? What difference does it make?

NP. I have a rare disease and have seen numerous specialists, with shorter and longer visits for them. I have mostly found this to be true, too. Sometimes a doctor will read another doctor's notes but generally only when some specific question has come up, not before an appointment. And yes, there are various incorrect diagnoses and mistakes in my chart. It's never even come up. Not an issue. Doctors look first at the patient in front of them, and the current issue, IMO. Only look at past history if there's a question that comes up. Treatment, insurance? That's all about the presenting patient.

I have a complex kiddo and this is our experience also. Sometimes a specialist will scan the notes from another department but there are always errors. They go through everything with me at a new visit anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you give me a real example of how this will impact your life? Not just “insurance” or that you have anxiety about it or that it’s wrong or that you have a heart condition. I’m curious what the tangible impact is if this incorrect information remains on the record? Like what is the real world consequence?

I have a child with complex medical problems and have found 2 things to be nearly universally true:

1. There are mistakes in doctors notes. Sometimes big, sometimes small, but always at least 1 for every visit;

2. Doctors never read each other’s notes. Even when I really want them to. Even when it would help. I think the only person who reads the notes is me. What am I missing? What difference does it make?

I'm the OP. I work with medically complex children birth to three. I read notes that other providers write on a daily basis.

I don't need to list out examples of how this will effect my life, but for starters, it will cause other doctors to make assumptions about my health and lifestyle habits.
Having something on my chart that states a former doctor diagnosed me with a condition that I DO NOT HAVE is a problem.
I went off a medication a long time ago (not a month ago) as this doctor states. I don't need to go into detail, but that is also important information.

You can’t come up with any examples because it doesn’t matter. These docs are thinking about you way less than you realize. They aren’t reading your chart. They don’t care. They have like 8 minutes per patient.

Have you thought about concierge care? It might be worth it given your anxiety and complex medical history.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are rejecting information people are giving you here about how you are likely being interpreted by the doc. So I am not sure how helpful this will be. But as a medically complex person who has also experienced misstatements like this in my records (I am missing some organs that are regularly described as “normal” in scan reports of various kinds because radiologists click boxes on autopilot) I really encourage you to focus your energy on things that will actually contribute to your quality of life. This focus will erode it.

The bottomless pit of medical error includes misstatements; some are material but these are not in that category.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This doctor sounds like a piece of work

Name and shame

I think this poster has also created another post. I wouldn't assume she's an easy patient.
The notes are written from the dr's point of view and she's responsible for them. You can add your own note too, OP. But you don't get to dictate what she writes.

Yes, I recognize the OP. However, it doesn't mean she's wrong. OP, change doctors, but before that add a letter to your file with a list of corrections. It may seem like insignificant details to others, but if they matter to you, you can do that. My husband is a doctor and always very precise in his note taking. That sort of thing wouldn't fly with him.

Thank you. Her response made me feel like I'm being a burden or I'm ridiculous for asking for these things to be corrected.

NP you come across that way to me, anyway

[Anonymous]

This ordinarily is governed by statute. That said, if it matters to you, you should get a lawyer. Tell them precisely what you want and pay them to go make it happen. But with the appalling lack of medical privacy that accompanies electronic notes that more than one physician can access don’t be surprised if you find you have to keep putting out fires.

[Anonymous]

This is why I don't have a PCP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I don't have a PCP.

Then what do you do? Do you just not see a doctor? How do you get referrals to a specialist if you need to see one?