Anonymous wrote:A colleague of mine in the same medical system labeled a patient as “immigrant” from a X city in X country. I think he’s crossed the line. Would you say something?

How do you know this as a fact if it’s not your patient? Wouldn’t accessing their records violate HIPAA?

Anonymous wrote:A colleague of mine in the same medical system labeled a patient as “immigrant” from a X city in X country. I think he’s crossed the line. Would you say something?

Why would you even know this? And no, not inappropriate

Or Ashkenazi Jewish for pregnant women...

There's been some serious anesthesia complications found only in people with venezuelan descent recently. I think it is a legit question for anyone you suspect may be venezualan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s valid info on a patient’s history

No, it is not.

Calling a patient an immigrant and writing place and country of birth is private information.

Unless you record place of birth and citizenship status of all of your patients, this is not a valid patient’s history.

There is also difference between stating “lived in country XYZ”, vs “immigrant”.

Call me crazy but I consider anything medical on my medical file WAY more private than where I was born and grew up, which, incidentally was not in the U.S.

There’s a good chance a patients social history will include stuff like “is an avid gardener” or “works as a chef” or “lives with long term trouple mates” if it’s a thorough new patient appointment. So yes, it’s appropriate to include if they are an immigrant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immigration is a highly stressful experience that is a potentially reasonable mention in a trauma-informed social history.

You have no clue what you are talking about. I am calling out xenophobia on your end.

On my end, I am not answering your call. I am answering OP: noting that a patient has immigrated is potentially reasonable. There is not enough information in your original post to make it clear whether it is reasonable in this case or not. Clarify if you're inclined to do so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s valid info on a patient’s history

No, it is not.

Calling a patient an immigrant and writing place and country of birth is private information.

Unless you record place of birth and citizenship status of all of your patients, this is not a valid patient’s history.

There is also difference between stating “lived in country XYZ”, vs “immigrant”.

You’re just completely wrong and absurd. I really doubt you are in the medical field.

Right

Check your biases and xenophobia before posting. I bet you have some self esteem issues if you feel that writing derogatory or overly private remarks about patients is ok. How would you even know whether a person is an immigrant? Accent, the way they look? How do you pick whom to ask inappropriate questions?

Btw … I am talking about legal immigrants who have been here about decades. If you were in a medical field, you would know that they have already been through a significantly higher health screening and verification of vaccinations than those who were born here.

If you have a health related concern about the place where a patient lived, you write it down and explain why you think that might be important to know.

Not just: immigrant, born in city A, country B. At best, you are being lazy and ignorant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s valid info on a patient’s history

No, it is not.

Calling a patient an immigrant and writing place and country of birth is private information.

Unless you record place of birth and citizenship status of all of your patients, this is not a valid patient’s history.

There is also difference between stating “lived in country XYZ”, vs “immigrant”.

You’re just completely wrong and absurd. I really doubt you are in the medical field.

Ridiculous complaint that can delay diagnosis. If the immigrant has not been here long, and/or there are diseases endemic to the area the person came from, it’s critical to note where they are from and how recently they arrived. Otherwise, you could miss something very important that could lead to that person’s death.

Happens all the time. DH went to the ER some years ago for food poisoning. This is a man that would not go to the ER unless he thought he was knocking on death’s door. He came out much better with meds and hydration and his file in one of the main systems in the DMV now says he’s an alcoholic. He doesn’t drink much (2-3 drinks a month) and was most certainly not drinking that evening.

Many doctors are horrible.

—-
Signed,

Immigrants. We get the job done.

Anonymous wrote:Immigration is a highly stressful experience that is a potentially reasonable mention in a trauma-informed social history.

You have no clue what you are talking about. I am calling out xenophobia on your end.

Immigration is a highly stressful experience that is a potentially reasonable mention in a trauma-informed social history.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course where people have lived is relevant.

People’s genetics and life experiences and habits and medicines (to include supplements) are relevant.

I am not deciding that. It is. When I ask people where they grew up or have lived or traveled, I explain why I am asking. Patients seem to appreciate that I am explaining the why of my questions.

I try to be careful with my wording. Based on symptoms, I will still ask the same questions. I will try to be more careful with my wording.

I wish there were more doctors who explain why they are asking certain questions. I don’t understand why some doctors get agitated when asked why do they ask, or why they are not willing to order certain relevant tests.
Could it be because they wrongly assume patients who speak with an accent are stupid?

The bolded. How did the question about place of birth come up? Noticed the accent? Would they have asked about the place of birth and immigration status if the patient didn’t have the accent?

Anonymous wrote:Of course where people have lived is relevant.

People’s genetics and life experiences and habits and medicines (to include supplements) are relevant.

I am not deciding that. It is. When I ask people where they grew up or have lived or traveled, I explain why I am asking. Patients seem to appreciate that I am explaining the why of my questions.

I try to be careful with my wording. Based on symptoms, I will still ask the same questions. I will try to be more careful with my wording.

I wish there were more doctors who explain why they are asking certain questions. I don’t understand why some doctors get agitated when asked why do they ask, or why they are not willing to order certain relevant tests.
Could it be because they wrongly assume patients who speak with an accent are stupid?