Clinic/hospital billing!!! ARRRGGG!

[mykidsand_i]

This is more of a vent than anything, because we've finally got it taken care of!!! But how in the heck do SOME of these hospitals and clinics even run with the STUPID people they have working there???

About 6 weeks ago, I went to the clinic to get seen for a health issue and they couldn't find my chart. OK, well, that made me mad. They looked and looked everywhere, no where to be found. It was because the name on my chart was wrong (lets say my last name is Wattson- it's not- but let's say it is)..the chart had the name of Tattison down. Yeah. I'd been going to this clinic for over 4 years now- and ALL OF A SUDDEN this becomes a problem??? It's always been right up until they 're-labled' it for some reason.

OK, tgot a bill in the mail for the visit- not just ONE BILL, but 2!!!! One for Wattson and one for Tattison! And they came in the mail two days apart from eachother AND they were for the same amount AND the same procedure and same Dr...

To top it all off, I went back- because I had to have a re-check on my broken nose and the charts were all messed up AGAIN! What LOOSERS do they have working at this clinic? I don't think that I should be trusting that they are keeping my info. correct- who knows what could happen.

THEN, TODAY, I get home and get my mail to find that I got another bill from them for a Judith Wattson...Which i don't even know who that is?!?!?! What the heck?!?!?!

So, I called and they said they were sorry for the mix up, but they wanted to send me out a new bill with my correct name on it- and it's not even suppose to be MY BILL!!! I never had any diabetic testing done (that's what the bill is for!!!) so, I actually went there today and talked to the lady who is in charge and let her know how upset I am. She said she was sorry and hopefully we got it all straightened out!!!

 

[DizBelle]

Welcome to planet Earth. You must be new here.

 

[JessicaR]

I would have my records and all my aliases records forwarded to a new doctor.

But seriously sending you someone else's medical records is a good reason to leave that practice. Who may be getting yours?

 

[mhsjax]

I would have my records and all my aliases records forwarded to a new doctor.

But seriously sending you someone else's medical records is a good reason to leave that practice. Who may be getting yours?

Did I miss something, I thought that the OP got a bill for someone else. This isn't medical records. It may state diabetic testing but other than listing office charges and lab tests done, no result or anything like that are listed.

 

[mykidsand_i]

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking! Who else is getting my stuff? The clinic is one that's got about 30 Dr.s working there- I don't blame the Dr.s but it's definatly someone's fault there. AND, I know that people make mistakes, but what in the heck? I certainly WILL NOT put up with crappy service. I think that I'm switching my family over to the other clinic in town (we only have 2-not owned by the same group).

I will be pulling all of our records from this place. This is unacceptable. It shouldn't be 'ok' for people to make mistakes like this! These are personal, private charts that have info. on them that only myself and my Dr.s should be seeing...

I expect people to make mistakes...but when they make BIG mistakes that could cost someone their health, wellness and privacy- those issues are not to be messed with- in my opinion-

Are people getting too lazy to actually care about their jobs? Actually, I don't even need an answer for that! I know it's 'yes!!!' but when did that change? It hasn't always been that way...yes, people have always made mistakes, but I believe that this 'mistake' is more than just a mistake- it's a 'newer employee' that is extremely lazy and won't do the job they were hired to do!

 

[mykidsand_i]

Did I miss something, I thought that the OP got a bill for someone else. This isn't medical records. It may state diabetic testing but other than listing office charges and lab tests done, no result or anything like that are listed.

I did get a bill for someone else. But who's to say that next time this happens it's not someone else getting my test results back on something??? Or something else gets sent out? I have gotten test results mailed to my home before. It's not uncommon to receive test results in the mail.

 

[happygirl]

Sure they made a mistake and sent you someone else bill. People are human and will make mistakes. I don't see the need for name calling. Do you want people to call you names for innocent mistakes?

 

[JessicaR]

Did I miss something, I thought that the OP got a bill for someone else. This isn't medical records. It may state diabetic testing but other than listing office charges and lab tests done, no result or anything like that are listed.

She got a bill for medical testing done on another person - and maybe the results, so much for confidentiality. Wouldn't make me happy. That on top of messing up her name and bills numerous times.

My blood work results are mailed to me.

 

[mykidsand_i]

It's not just the bill that I'm mad about- did you not read the origional post? This is a SERIES of SEVERAL mistakes (all made by one or two different people who work in the billing and records office)... And AFTER the mistakes were brought to their attention, the mistakes CONTINUED to occur. After the 3rd or 4th mistake in a row, you'd think these people would learn. I'm on the phone with them every week for the past 6 weeks-

I know people make mistakes- it's human nature. when they continue to make mistakes OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER again- then they are just IDIOTS!!!!

 

[happygirl]

It's not just the bill that I'm mad about- did you not read the origional post? This is a SERIES of SEVERAL mistakes (all made by one or two different people who work in the billing and records office)... And AFTER the mistakes were brought to their attention, the mistakes CONTINUED to occur. After the 3rd or 4th mistake in a row, you'd think these people would learn. I'm on the phone with them every week for the past 6 weeks-

I know people make mistakes- it's human nature. when they continue to make mistakes OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER again- then they are just IDIOTS!!!!

I guess I don't get upset about things like you do. I hope you get everything cleared up.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

OP, file a complaint with the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services for a violation of HIPPA. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/index.html

This is an error that needs to be addressed so that you or any other patients records are not sent to another person. Personally, I don't think medical information should be mailed out unless there is an absolute way to secure the patient's identity.

 

[mykidsand_i]

I guess I don't get upset about things like you do. I hope you get everything cleared up.

Thanks. I do believe that anyone should be upset in my situation though. A persons health is a very serious thing to be screwing up with...The Dr. that I saw when I broke my nose gave me a medicine that interacted badly with another medicine I was on. If he would have had the correct chart, I would have not had the bad side effects of struggling to breath for 3 days. I told him the med.s I was on, but he didn't know the correct dosage information (due to the lack of being able to find my chart for the second time in a month)...

 

[mykidsand_i]

OP, file a complaint with the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services for a violation of HIPPA. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/index.html

This is an error that needs to be addressed so that you or any other patients records are not sent to another person. Personally, I don't think medical information should be mailed out unless there is an absolute way to secure the patient's identity.

Thank you! I never even thought about filling a complaint other than with the people who run the clinic- which I did.

I think it's so funny. If we make a mistake with something that the clinic has to deal with (like paying a bill or something), we get a nasty letter in the mail from them! And if THEY are the ones who screw up and we bring it to their attention, they act like it's no big deal at all...

 

[HoneyPooh]

Why would you file a complaint when you don't know if someone else has received your medical information?

 

[mykidsand_i]

Maybe I should contact this other lady and tell her that I got her info. and that the clinic sent it to me? Sounds maybe like she should be the one to file the complaint?

 

[pixiewings71]

A few years ago we had a house fire, while our home was being rebuilt we lived in a rental. I went to the dr because I was sick and gave them our temp. address. They got it all wrong. It was on White Wing Way but they put Right Weng Lane on the paperwork. LOL I didn't even notice until I got home and I called and had them fix it, well I went back a few weeks later (still sick) and they had changed it but it was still wrong. LOL I wrote the right address on a piece of paper and gave it to the gal checking me in, she said she'd fix it but nope, didn't get fixed. I called them about a week later because I was waiting for them to send me something, at that point I told them to change my address back to my regular address and to send me everything there. LOL They argued with me because I wasn't living there, well we were still getting our mail there......finally I won and that's what they did. But I didn't run around calling them idiots.....sheesh....that seems a bit harsh.
OP I hope you get it all fixed, stuff like this is a PITA.

 

[Nancy]

really, idiot is harsh? I call people idiots all the time. When they are driving recklessly..idiots. Acting like...well, idiots..in public (like screaming at customer service workers)..yep..I will say "I saw this idiot at xxxxxstore today"

To the OP, I work in health insurance and I would be really upset if they couldn't get my information correct.

 

[mykidsand_i]

really, idiot is harsh? I call people idiots all the time. When they are driving recklessly..idiots. Acting like...well, idiots..in public (like screaming at customer service workers)..yep..I will say "I saw this idiot at xxxxxstore today"

To the OP, I work in health insurance and I would be really upset if they couldn't get my information correct.

Yeah, we've had to refile three insurance claims over the past 2 months- because the names submitted didn't match the numbers on our account...it's been kind of a hassle, I'm sure the insurance people are getting frustrated with it too...I'm sure it happens more than we'd know...

 

[mhsjax]

She got a bill for medical testing done on another person - and maybe the results, so much for confidentiality. Wouldn't make me happy. That on top of messing up her name and bills numerous times.

My blood work results are mailed to me.

I have never had any result mailed to me. They will give me a copy when I go in, other than that they just call with the results.

 

[lillygator]

Why would you file a complaint when you don't know if someone else has received your medical information?

exactly. I can guess what will come next.