Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 22:03     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Anonymous wrote:
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?



Those aren't questions that a receptionist should be asking. I'd reach out to management


You've obviously never been in breast cancer land (fortunately for you). This sounds exactly like the stupid questionnaires they make you fill out before every exam, never mind that it's all in MyChart. Normally the receptionist just gives it over on a clipboard but if the person was having trouble reading it or filling it out, or if the office computerized it, those are exactly the kind of questions they'd be asking.

This behavior sounds absolutely par for the course with my experiences at many medical offices. At Hopkins Medical Imaging it is practically like a locker room with women sitting around in robes waiting to be called, and then the assistant sometimes comes out and asks you questions or gives you the results right there where everyone else can hear. "Mrs. Smith? Here is your mammogram letter, we'll send it to Dr. Johnson's office as well, and they want you to come back for another ultrasound for that complex cyst on your right breast in six months, okay?"
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 21:08     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Anonymous wrote:
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.


+1. And honestly, I think I might have gone to the window and politely suggested that the woman needed privacy to answer these questions - or use the excuse that I was very uncomfortable with this interaction being in the open. I wouldn't push it or make it confrontational though.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 21:07     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
I have to wait months for an mri…I would not be thrilled but why post here.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 21:06     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Anonymous wrote:You can report HIPAA violation.


LOL, that's not a HIPAA violation. Learn what the term means before tossing it around
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 21:03     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
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?



Those aren't questions that a receptionist should be asking. I'd reach out to management
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 21:01     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Anonymous wrote:
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,


Well, if she was found to have breast cancer, then they would have the information they need to determine treatment — whether that involves chemo, something more basic, or simply palliative care. It just gives the doctor information n so they (doctor and patient) can make decisions.


Like I said: treating almost anything on a 93 year old is a waste of resources.


My grandmother had surgery for stomach cancer at 93. Lived another 7 years and got to vote for Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, which brought her great joy as she had been a groundbreaker in a number of ways as a woman. She was just as deserving of that medical treatment as anyone else. If we're going to start denying medical treatment based on age, should we base it on other criteria too?
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 20:25     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Anonymous wrote:
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.

I heard Missy Eliot singing "Work It" in my head when I read that, lol. I hope you are well.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 20:12     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Anonymous wrote:
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,


Well, if she was found to have breast cancer, then they would have the information they need to determine treatment — whether that involves chemo, something more basic, or simply palliative care. It just gives the doctor information n so they (doctor and patient) can make decisions.


Like I said: treating almost anything on a 93 year old is a waste of resources.


My 90 year old mother recently had a lumpectomy for breast cancer. Surgery for breast cancer when it is diagnosed at that age is not uncommon. It can be curative. At best it’s palliative.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 19:54     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Anonymous wrote:Wait until you are 93 you might feel differently them


If I live to 93 I will be enjoying every damn day and not giving a rat's a$$ what anyone overhears in a doctor's office.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 19:52     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
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,


Who hurt you so much that your an inhumane shrew?

Probably med school.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 19:51     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room

The American medical industry is a curse to most Americans.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 19:20     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Wait until you are 93 you might feel differently them
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 19:16     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
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,


Well, if she was found to have breast cancer, then they would have the information they need to determine treatment — whether that involves chemo, something more basic, or simply palliative care. It just gives the doctor information n so they (doctor and patient) can make decisions.


Like I said: treating almost anything on a 93 year old is a waste of resources.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 19:11     Subject: Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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$$


Meh. I agree with that PP. Not a big deal. So some old woman was asked about her period. If she's 93 she has certainly been through a lot more than that. The person behind the counter was just trying to do their job; they may not have been able to do the testing without the answers to the questions.

DP


Just because it’s not a big deal TO YOU doesn’t mean it wasn’t a big deal TO HER, and that is was actually matters here. I’m sure the person was just following procedures, the point is that the procedures are stupid when they involve a receptionist yelling personal questions at someone who is hard of hearing. I’m sure they could have found a different way to get the answers if they were really needed for a test. Like, write them down for her maybe. Or pull her into an empty room.

NP
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2025 19:09     Subject: Re:Upsetting scene at radiologist waiting room
Anonymous wrote:People are dying from lack of access to clean drinking water and hitmen that will kill you for $5, and OP is shocked that someone is talking to loudly in a medical office


Where can you hire a hitman for $5? And would he be willing to perform other services or only hits? Because we need lawn care, laundry, dishes, general housecleaning, etc. That rate is amazing. I don’t need the actual hit, though.