Health records privacy between doctors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was annoyed that my PCP office's EMR (Epic) automatically shared records with my *dentist*.

OP, if your ex accesses your records without a legitimate reason, that's a HIPAA violation and he can get in trouble with his employer. The employer can see who has any accessed any records. If he's really unhinged, this might not stop him.

Dentist is bad, but how abt this!

I (a physician) went to see a specialist who a dr friend recommended. I dutifully (stupidly?) wrote her name “larla smith” in the “how did you learn abt our practice?” section (and NOT “dr larla smith” in the “were you referred by your physician?” Section) and she ended up getting a fulsome report of my entire visit mailed to her office, including a personal note from the doc to call him with any questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was annoyed that my PCP office's EMR (Epic) automatically shared records with my *dentist*.

OP, if your ex accesses your records without a legitimate reason, that's a HIPAA violation and he can get in trouble with his employer. The employer can see who has any accessed any records. If he's really unhinged, this might not stop him.

Dentist is bad, but how abt this!

I (a physician) went to see a specialist who a dr friend recommended. I dutifully (stupidly?) wrote her name “larla smith” in the “how did you learn abt our practice?” section (and NOT “dr larla smith” in the “were you referred by your physician?” Section) and she ended up getting a fulsome report of my entire visit mailed to her office, including a personal note from the doc to call him with any questions.

This.

In my community there's a ring of adult bullies who target and harass various individuals for their personal amusement. I wish I were exaggerating but unfortunately I am not. One of them was sued a few years ago for spreading slander about an individual they were harassing. The harasser is 100% capable of getting a friend working in a medical office to get him personal medical information with the intent to embarrass the person they're terrorizing. 100% capable.

The databases don't take into account the many ways a patient's personal medical information can be misused. These databases are dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was annoyed that my PCP office's EMR (Epic) automatically shared records with my *dentist*.

OP, if your ex accesses your records without a legitimate reason, that's a HIPAA violation and he can get in trouble with his employer. The employer can see who has any accessed any records. If he's really unhinged, this might not stop him.

Dentist is bad, but how abt this!

I (a physician) went to see a specialist who a dr friend recommended. I dutifully (stupidly?) wrote her name “larla smith” in the “how did you learn abt our practice?” section (and NOT “dr larla smith” in the “were you referred by your physician?” Section) and she ended up getting a fulsome report of my entire visit mailed to her office, including a personal note from the doc to call him with any questions.

This.

In my community there's a ring of adult bullies who target and harass various individuals for their personal amusement. I wish I were exaggerating but unfortunately I am not. One of them was sued a few years ago for spreading slander about an individual they were harassing. The harasser is 100% capable of getting a friend working in a medical office to get him personal medical information with the intent to embarrass the person they're terrorizing. 100% capable.

The databases don't take into account the many ways a patient's personal medical information can be misused. These databases are dangerous.

Why couldn't the harasser get a friend to look at paper records?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would they be able to access them, theoretically? Probably. Would they be allowed to, according to HIPAA, if you did not sign a form allowing them to share records with other providers? No. And regardless, sharing of records from, say, an OB to an Ophthalmologist would only happen if the ophthalmologist had a medical reason to need to see the notes, even if you technically signed that you were ok with it. If your eye doctor is reading about your C section 12 years ago just for fun , that’s not allowed.

HIPAA doesn't require consent for sharing between providers.

Even if it did require it how would they know if a dentist was reading ob-Gyn details of a patient? The thought of open access like that is unnerving. Plus most of us just sign the HIPPA paperwork without fully knowing what it all covers.

Specific to my immediate concern, I know my family member read my file because of a comment slip and I don’t want to provide the opportunity to breach again with new dr office. Info could just be pulled up by a name search?

They would know because in EHRs, admins can see who has accessed what information and when. For health privacy violation purposes. Health info in an EHR is on a need to know basis. As a doc, I’m not allowed (per HIPAA) to read a patients social work note from when a social worker met with them in the ER one time a few years ago, unless I actually need that information. And if I click on it and read it, and one day the patient calls our facility and goes “I just have a hunch that Dr B is reading my private psychiatric health info even though Dr B is my dermatologist”, the facility can very easily check and see that yes I absolutely read my patients social work and psych notes. And I’d be fired.

Doctors don't even get fired for removing the wrong body part in a surgery. They're certainly not getting fired for a HIPAA violation.

Doctors definitely get fired for HIPAA violations. I’m a doctor and I know more than one doctor that got serious reprimands/suspensions for accessing their own records (oddly enough, that’s a hipaa violation). I’ve also known folks fired for accessing celebrity records. If across a random chart - one that our name is associated with as a medical provider - we get a special warning screen, we are asked to provide a reason, and reenter a password

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would they be able to access them, theoretically? Probably. Would they be allowed to, according to HIPAA, if you did not sign a form allowing them to share records with other providers? No. And regardless, sharing of records from, say, an OB to an Ophthalmologist would only happen if the ophthalmologist had a medical reason to need to see the notes, even if you technically signed that you were ok with it. If your eye doctor is reading about your C section 12 years ago just for fun , that’s not allowed.

HIPAA doesn't require consent for sharing between providers.

Even if it did require it how would they know if a dentist was reading ob-Gyn details of a patient? The thought of open access like that is unnerving. Plus most of us just sign the HIPPA paperwork without fully knowing what it all covers.

Specific to my immediate concern, I know my family member read my file because of a comment slip and I don’t want to provide the opportunity to breach again with new dr office. Info could just be pulled up by a name search?

They would know because in EHRs, admins can see who has accessed what information and when. For health privacy violation purposes. Health info in an EHR is on a need to know basis. As a doc, I’m not allowed (per HIPAA) to read a patients social work note from when a social worker met with them in the ER one time a few years ago, unless I actually need that information. And if I click on it and read it, and one day the patient calls our facility and goes “I just have a hunch that Dr B is reading my private psychiatric health info even though Dr B is my dermatologist”, the facility can very easily check and see that yes I absolutely read my patients social work and psych notes. And I’d be fired.

Doctors don't even get fired for removing the wrong body part in a surgery. They're certainly not getting fired for a HIPAA violation.

Doctors definitely get fired for HIPAA violations. I’m a doctor and I know more than one doctor that got serious reprimands/suspensions for accessing their own records (oddly enough, that’s a hipaa violation). I’ve also known folks fired for accessing celebrity records. If across a random chart - one that our name is associated with as a medical provider - we get a special warning screen, we are asked to provide a reason, and reenter a password

You might be surprised to learn what your colleagues have gotten away with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, having records all connected should be good for patient care but there are valid reasons a patient doesn’t want every dr they see to know who else they have seen, what was discussed, etc and every other medical issue they have or have had.

Such as?

Read the thread.

It's usually because of diagnosis shopping. Sometimes drug seeking. Is that what you meant?

Read the thread. Drug seeking is an issue, absolutely, and it’s a problem, but I don’t think all patients should be penalized for it - as someone who is loath to take anything stronger than an Advil I also don’t like the automatic connectivity. Sometimes it is hard to get good advice and assistance with an issue and you as the patient want several opinions on how to proceed or what a problem may be. I don’t think it’s anyone’s business who else I’ve consulted. Also you don’t want the dr prejudging the situation and letting reports from other doctors color their thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would they be able to access them, theoretically? Probably. Would they be allowed to, according to HIPAA, if you did not sign a form allowing them to share records with other providers? No. And regardless, sharing of records from, say, an OB to an Ophthalmologist would only happen if the ophthalmologist had a medical reason to need to see the notes, even if you technically signed that you were ok with it. If your eye doctor is reading about your C section 12 years ago just for fun , that’s not allowed.

HIPAA doesn't require consent for sharing between providers.

It absolutely does. I work at an urgent care and if I send someone to the ER and call up to have the patients visit note faxed to me the next day, they refuse, unless I fax over a signed consent from the patient. BTDT.

DP. I don't think you are being clear about the difference between what HIPAA requires and the private police of an institution.

A lot of hospitals and clinics have their own requirements, and they get to do that. It isn't based in HIPAA, though, even if some people citing the rule think it is.

[Anonymous]

^^private policy, that is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, having records all connected should be good for patient care but there are valid reasons a patient doesn’t want every dr they see to know who else they have seen, what was discussed, etc and every other medical issue they have or have had.

Such as?

Read the thread.

It's usually because of diagnosis shopping. Sometimes drug seeking. Is that what you meant?

Read the thread. Drug seeking is an issue, absolutely, and it’s a problem, but I don’t think all patients should be penalized for it - as someone who is loath to take anything stronger than an Advil I also don’t like the automatic connectivity. Sometimes it is hard to get good advice and assistance with an issue and you as the patient want several opinions on how to proceed or what a problem may be. I don’t think it’s anyone’s business who else I’ve consulted. Also you don’t want the dr prejudging the situation and letting reports from other doctors color their thinking.

That's called diagnosis shopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, having records all connected should be good for patient care but there are valid reasons a patient doesn’t want every dr they see to know who else they have seen, what was discussed, etc and every other medical issue they have or have had.

Such as?

Read the thread.

It's usually because of diagnosis shopping. Sometimes drug seeking. Is that what you meant?

Read the thread. Drug seeking is an issue, absolutely, and it’s a problem, but I don’t think all patients should be penalized for it - as someone who is loath to take anything stronger than an Advil I also don’t like the automatic connectivity. Sometimes it is hard to get good advice and assistance with an issue and you as the patient want several opinions on how to proceed or what a problem may be. I don’t think it’s anyone’s business who else I’ve consulted. Also you don’t want the dr prejudging the situation and letting reports from other doctors color their thinking.

That's called diagnosis shopping.

Yeah, not necessarily. You may have a diagnosis of some kind and want different opinions on how to treat. And why is diagnosis shopping necessarily bad? If you aren’t sure what’s going on for some reason with a health issue you might be getting opinions as to what the cause might be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, having records all connected should be good for patient care but there are valid reasons a patient doesn’t want every dr they see to know who else they have seen, what was discussed, etc and every other medical issue they have or have had.

Such as?

Read the thread.

It's usually because of diagnosis shopping. Sometimes drug seeking. Is that what you meant?

Read the thread. Drug seeking is an issue, absolutely, and it’s a problem, but I don’t think all patients should be penalized for it - as someone who is loath to take anything stronger than an Advil I also don’t like the automatic connectivity. Sometimes it is hard to get good advice and assistance with an issue and you as the patient want several opinions on how to proceed or what a problem may be. I don’t think it’s anyone’s business who else I’ve consulted. Also you don’t want the dr prejudging the situation and letting reports from other doctors color their thinking.

That's called diagnosis shopping.

Yeah, not necessarily. You may have a diagnosis of some kind and want different opinions on how to treat. And why is diagnosis shopping necessarily bad? If you aren’t sure what’s going on for some reason with a health issue you might be getting opinions as to what the cause might be.

You're asking why it's bad to withhold relevant medical information from providers when you didn't like what one told you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, having records all connected should be good for patient care but there are valid reasons a patient doesn’t want every dr they see to know who else they have seen, what was discussed, etc and every other medical issue they have or have had.

Such as?

Read the thread.

It's usually because of diagnosis shopping. Sometimes drug seeking. Is that what you meant?

Read the thread. Drug seeking is an issue, absolutely, and it’s a problem, but I don’t think all patients should be penalized for it - as someone who is loath to take anything stronger than an Advil I also don’t like the automatic connectivity. Sometimes it is hard to get good advice and assistance with an issue and you as the patient want several opinions on how to proceed or what a problem may be. I don’t think it’s anyone’s business who else I’ve consulted. Also you don’t want the dr prejudging the situation and letting reports from other doctors color their thinking.

That's called diagnosis shopping.

Yeah, not necessarily. You may have a diagnosis of some kind and want different opinions on how to treat. And why is diagnosis shopping necessarily bad? If you aren’t sure what’s going on for some reason with a health issue you might be getting opinions as to what the cause might be.

You're asking why it's bad to withhold relevant medical information from providers when you didn't like what one told you?

Who said anything about withholding information? The pp is talking about the possibility of doctors reaching different conclusions on diagnosis or treatment options based on the same information presented. Happens all the time with nuances. It doesn’t mean finding someone at fault. It means a difference of opinion or approach. That’s the whole reasoning behind “get a second opinion”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, having records all connected should be good for patient care but there are valid reasons a patient doesn’t want every dr they see to know who else they have seen, what was discussed, etc and every other medical issue they have or have had.

Such as?

Read the thread.

It's usually because of diagnosis shopping. Sometimes drug seeking. Is that what you meant?

Read the thread. Drug seeking is an issue, absolutely, and it’s a problem, but I don’t think all patients should be penalized for it - as someone who is loath to take anything stronger than an Advil I also don’t like the automatic connectivity. Sometimes it is hard to get good advice and assistance with an issue and you as the patient want several opinions on how to proceed or what a problem may be. I don’t think it’s anyone’s business who else I’ve consulted. Also you don’t want the dr prejudging the situation and letting reports from other doctors color their thinking.

That's called diagnosis shopping.

Yeah, not necessarily. You may have a diagnosis of some kind and want different opinions on how to treat. And why is diagnosis shopping necessarily bad? If you aren’t sure what’s going on for some reason with a health issue you might be getting opinions as to what the cause might be.

You're asking why it's bad to withhold relevant medical information from providers when you didn't like what one told you?

Who said anything about withholding information? The pp is talking about the possibility of doctors reaching different conclusions on diagnosis or treatment options based on the same information presented. Happens all the time with nuances. It doesn’t mean finding someone at fault. It means a difference of opinion or approach. That’s the whole reasoning behind “get a second opinion”.

Withholding medical records is withholding information.

[Anonymous]

I went out of state to see a specialist , full pay out of pocket. Not only could he see all my existing records of everything from pcp to derm, gastro, gyno, etc etc but his visit was also noted to me by my instate specialist the next time I saw her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, having records all connected should be good for patient care but there are valid reasons a patient doesn’t want every dr they see to know who else they have seen, what was discussed, etc and every other medical issue they have or have had.

Such as?

Read the thread.

It's usually because of diagnosis shopping. Sometimes drug seeking. Is that what you meant?

Read the thread. Drug seeking is an issue, absolutely, and it’s a problem, but I don’t think all patients should be penalized for it - as someone who is loath to take anything stronger than an Advil I also don’t like the automatic connectivity. Sometimes it is hard to get good advice and assistance with an issue and you as the patient want several opinions on how to proceed or what a problem may be. I don’t think it’s anyone’s business who else I’ve consulted. Also you don’t want the dr prejudging the situation and letting reports from other doctors color their thinking.

That's called diagnosis shopping.

Yeah, not necessarily. You may have a diagnosis of some kind and want different opinions on how to treat. And why is diagnosis shopping necessarily bad? If you aren’t sure what’s going on for some reason with a health issue you might be getting opinions as to what the cause might be.

You're asking why it's bad to withhold relevant medical information from providers when you didn't like what one told you?

Who said anything about withholding information? The pp is talking about the possibility of doctors reaching different conclusions on diagnosis or treatment options based on the same information presented. Happens all the time with nuances. It doesn’t mean finding someone at fault. It means a difference of opinion or approach. That’s the whole reasoning behind “get a second opinion”.

Withholding medical records is withholding information.

Just because a doctor wrote something down (or more likely clicked a box) does not make the thing written or clicked into an established fact that, if not mentioned, is “being withheld.”