Another Dr. Office policy question..

[Galahad]

Verbal authorizations are not necessarily reliable protection against complaints.

They are not at all protection against complaints. Written authorizations often are challenged.

 

[allison443]

I have seen nothing in HIPAA that says that regular emergency contact designation satisfies the privacy requirements for doctor-patient discussions.

On some of the doctors we go to, there is a separate section (not emergency contact section) to be filled out regarding who can get the patient's info under HIPAA. I know with my dd who is 21, she had to fill out something separately to allow me to get info, test results, prescriptions for her, etc.
It was definitely a separate form from the emergency contact form.

 

[minniecarousel]

HA!

I'd love to see the doctor or staff not allow me in the room with my Mother! She can't hear well, and she gets nervous when she has to answer questions. She can't remember stuff when under stress (her memory isn't bad, she just gets frazzled.)

I can't imagine an elderly person seeing the doctor without a family member present - at least the elderly I know.

 

[bicker]

On some of the doctors we go to, there is a separate section (not emergency contact section) to be filled out regarding who can get the patient's info under HIPAA. I know with my dd who is 21, she had to fill out something separately to allow me to get info, test results, prescriptions for her, etc.
It was definitely a separate form from the emergency contact form.

And so that would change the original complaint from, "My doctor won't allow me to be in the room with my DH...," into, "My doctor forces me to sign a form in order to be in the room with my DH..." However, it isn't even that clean, because we're now adding overhead to the system. The way Allison explained it, this would be on the standard patient information form, so that means that the form itself needs to be checked each time (which shouldn't be too big of a deal, I suppose), a new form needs to be filed whenever the designated person change$, and every version of the form needs to be kept in accordance with the retention requirement$. However, I can understand why some doctor's offices would just not want to take any chances.

I also wonder to what extent this practice is fed by pressure from insurance companies. Perhaps they'd detected a correlation between doctor's offices that allow more extra persons in the room during doctor-patient discussions and added costs from claims.

 

[Camicar]

So, according to your doctor's rules, if he had to tell one of you that you had a brain tumor, the spouse would not be allowed in the room?

I'd ask him that exact question.

Frankly, if one patient is not competent enough to accurately describe their health and handle the medical advice given to them, it is BAD medicine to exclude their own choice of helping person from the info.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

DW Lauri has 5 doctors and all of these doctors not only allow me in the examining room with her, they ask why I'm not there if I don't come back. I don't know if it has to do with the nature and severity of her illness and thats why they expect it? Or they are just flexible. Either way, I don't think we would go to a doctor that doesn't allow a spouse to be present if the patient wants them to be there.

 

[KandD]

Dax I am curious (I have to admit that since I read this post this morning I have thought about it a few times during the day!!).....what did the doctor say to you as you were following him into the room where your DH was? It seems to me that considering the relationship he had with you and your DH before this issue came up, s/he should at least give an explanation before closing the door in your face.

I don't know why I find this situation so weird but I do. I just can't imagine why the office won't even give you a reason!!!

 

[Dax]

Dax I am curious (I have to admit that since I read this post this morning I have thought about it a few times during the day!!).....what did the doctor say to you as you were following him into the room where your DH was? It seems to me that considering the relationship he had with you and your DH before this issue came up, s/he should at least give an explanation before closing the door in your face.

I don't know why I find this situation so weird but I do. I just can't imagine why the office won't even give you a reason!!!

I was basically told that office policy was to only allow one person in the room. That if he allowed me to do it, even just this once, someone else would expect it the next time, and the policy would be useless. When I said that he wanted me in there, and he that he knew he had issues with remembering things, he just apologized again. At that point, I just stopped arguing, and went to the waiting room. Of course, that visit, DH forgot to get a needed RX, and I had to go back..but thats a whole other post..LOL..

I have had HIPPA issues in the past. Our eye dr would not give me DH's RX for his contacts, even if he called and said OK. He would have to come in and sign a paper to allow it...so he just picked up the RX, and said screw the HIPPA paper..HIPPA drives me nuts

 

[MickeysMommy]

When my Dad was sick, we had a letter signed by my Dad that my mother and I are allowed to hear anything regarding his illness/health...can your husband write a letter explaining what is going on and that he would like you in the room with him? Maybe that might help?

 

[mamacatnv]

Are you saying that the doctor won't permit you to be in the room while DH is being seen

OR

that the doctor won't see two patients in one room?

It seems to me that you could just be seen first, leave your exam room, and join DH.

This was my first question but I think upon further reading that your Dr. will not allow you to be in the room no matter what. Is that correct?

I can see not allowing the 2 appointments only because of confusion that it could potentially cause however to not allow a spouse in at all is not right IMO.

I am my Mother's legal guardian and my Aunt or I accompany her to all her appointments. I have had to write letters and/or fill out access/privacy forms but I have never ever been told that myself or my Aunt could not be in the room with my mother and regardless of the relationship with the Dr. I would not tolerate being denied access I would move on.

When DS turned 18 he chose his own physician but he granted authorization for his father and I to ask, inquire, be informed and accompany him if necessary.

So, if you are sitting there in the waiting room with your DH who has an appt. and the nurse calls his name and you stand with him to go into the room, what does the Dr's staff do? Do they right there deny you access and tell you to sit down he'll be out soon?

 

[Dax]

So, if you are sitting there in the waiting room with your DH who has an appt. and the nurse calls his name and you stand with him to go into the room, what does the Dr's staff do? Do they right there deny you access and tell you to sit down he'll be out soon?

They pretty much tell me he will be out soon. Tried that tactic too..

I hate to have to get a new dr, but this may be the final straw.

 

[mhsjax]

The physician is the "captain of the ship", and he can determine how he sees patients. I would find it extremely unusual if he wasn't involved in this decision, and I can't imagine an office manager telling a physician that "only one person is allowed in the room". Patients are often accompanied by family members. This situation is not unusual.

While this is true, they are captain of the ship, that is until the wife comes along, and I believe that the OP said his wife was the office manager. Now before any physicians wive's get mad here, I know that not all of them are like this, but I have worked for many Dr's in my life and most of them didn't want to deal with their wive's and if the wife ran the office then so be it, whatever she said goes. I also worked for one that told me, I don't care what you have to do, keep my wife out of this office, she tries to reaarrange everything I do.so maybe that is the problem. not the Dr but the office manager. Sorry for any typos, or spelling errors, I type too fast for my own good and am too lazy to go back and correct it.

 

[mhsjax]

And so that would change the original complaint from, "My doctor won't allow me to be in the room with my DH...," into, "My doctor forces me to sign a form in order to be in the room with my DH..." However, it isn't even that clean, because we're now adding overhead to the system. The way Allison explained it, this would be on the standard patient information form, so that means that the form itself needs to be checked each time (which shouldn't be too big of a deal, I suppose), a new form needs to be filed whenever the designated person change$, and every version of the form needs to be kept in accordance with the retention requirement$. However, I can understand why some doctor's offices would just not want to take any chances.

I also wonder to what extent this practice is fed by pressure from insurance companies. Perhaps they'd detected a correlation between doctor's offices that allow more extra persons in the room during doctor-patient discussions and added costs from claims.

Actually most Dr's I see do have a separate form about medical info being released to someone and you have to list who and are they allowed to leave a message and if so can they leave a detailed message on the phone. When I worked for Dr's most of these forms were valid for 1 year from the date of signature, but not sure about these new ones. I do agree with you about how careful Drs have to be in this society, people are sue happy and we have had some real nut jobs try to get info on friends and relative and they will try all sorts of things to get that info. no saying that is what the OP is doing by any means, just agreeing with you about why Drs have to be so very carful these days.

 

[LisaR]

I would call the doctor anonymously, stating that you are looking for a new doctor for your spouse, mother, friend, etc. I would ask if it is permissible for you to go in the exam room with them since they are a little gun shy. See what they tell you.

I find it hard to believe this is their policy, especially since you state that he treats a lot of elderly people. If someone didn't go with my Mom, I really doubt my Mom would still be with us because she would totally screw up her medications and forget to mention things like, "I passed out the other day."

I would have to wonder if this was a personal issue between you guys and the doctor (maybe taking too much of his time or he felt he was doing to much counseling). Just grasping at straws. Not blaming you but I would make certain this is truly their office policy.

If this is his policy, I would find a new doctor immediately.

 

[MICKEY88]

When DS turned 18 he chose his own physician but he granted authorization for her father and I to ask, inquire, be informed and accompany him if necessary.

I'm confused,,are you talking about your son or daughter ??

 

[Dax]

I would have to wonder if this was a personal issue between you guys and the doctor (maybe taking too much of his time or he felt he was doing to much counseling). Just grasping at straws. Not blaming you but I would make certain this is truly their office policy.

If this is his policy, I would find a new doctor immediately.

Its office policy...there are signs posted all over the office.

 

[LisaR]

Its office policy...there are signs posted all over the office.

Oops! I missed that. Time for a new doctor ASAP! What if you or your spouse had a serious issue and truly needed someone with them? At that point, it is too late to start searching for a new doctor. Find someone new today. That policy is absurd.

 

[Galahad]

Its office policy...there are signs posted all over the office.

What specifically do the signs say? It certainly is a policy that doesn't make sense. If I were to leave a practice because of this I'd sure want to understand why they are doing it. I'm very surprised they refuse to explain it.

 

[mamacatnv]

I'm confused,,are you talking about your son or daughter ??

Oops, just imagine how confused my DS is I go fix, thanks for the heads up

 

[Abbie]

I think the policy is absurd, but before I dumped a doctor I really liked, I'd suggest a compromise. What if your DH is seen privately, then you are asked to come back to go over directions, etc with the dr and your DH? We do that in our office for teens, elderly, or in the situation you describe. Yes, it takes more time but my gut is that's the reason for the new policy anyway so he might not be willing to do this either.

Also, your DH could write down any of his/your concerns to present to the dr. so he won't forget anything. And if he signs a release allowing you his medical information, you can always call later to ask whatever, add info, etc.

As far as hipaa, you will find a different form in every office you go to. There are standards to follow but offices are left to their own devices to construct the verbiage. In ours it's a generic form but has nothing to do with to whom we are allowed to speak. We tell our patients that if they want us to be able to release any sort of medical information to anyone other than themselves they will need to physically write that on the form. There are many elderly patients who we don't even worry about this, I figure if the daughter or son routinely bring them and the dr. speaks to them every time, that's all the consent we need. Hipaa regulations refer to "reasonable" accomodations, it's really not all that cut-and-dried.