I think I'm getting caught in something I don't want to be....

[December99]

I have this individual in my office who has been out alot due to illness and other problems. Yesterday she was given notice of some things they would like her to understand and follow for the future in regard to being gone so much (some of this could be prevented). Well today after being here an hour she called one of the secretaries to come in and relieve her so she could take a small break. After about 15 minutes she called from her cellphone and said she was having some problems and needed to go to the emergency room. These are problems that have been a problem for awhile and her doctor told her if it happens she needs to get to the er, so we were aware of this and we are understandable about it because it is important she get it checked out immediately because it doesn't happen all the time and the only way for it to be found as to why it's happening is to see it in the works.

Well, usually she calls me at least by now and let's me know how she's doing and what course they decided to go. I have yet to hear and this was 6 hours ago and I'm actually getting a little concerned for her - she has no one here for support and her family is about an hour away. So I called her home (long story but it's just a voicemail) and left a message hoping that she's okay and to call me when she can. So then I called the ER - she's never been there today!!! She does not doctor here so I called the hospital by her doctor - never shown up there. We are really hoping that she got in to see the doc instead of spending the $$ for the ER visit. But now that I made these calls, I'm afraid I've gotten myself stuck in the middle of something that I don't want to get in the middle of. UGH...thanks for letting me talk about this - I hate being a "middleman".

 

[Serena]

Yikes Chris, this is not good.

 

[jamsmom]

Maybe there is another ER close by?

 

[WeirdEyes]

I hate to say this but it sounds like she is scamming you. Maybe she needed the time off for some other reason and thought she'd get into trouble. I've seen this type of thing a lot before since I work in HR. Good luck. Just be honest and you should be ok.

 

[FOJMO]

This sounds very fishy. I'm very skeptical about it being anything to do with her health. Drugs? Alcohol? Depression? God only knows...

Try to be supportive, but also try not to get too much in the middle. Sounds like she has herself in the "thick" of something.

Keep us posted... and good luck

 

[December99]

Thanks...and I'm thinking the same that FOJMO and WE are saying.

Jams...we are a small area and the only other hospital won't take her insurance and are up to an hour to an hour and a half away. I don't think she would do that given she's had this scare before.

 

[snoopy]

Sounds to me like her lie has come back to bite her in the you-know-where!

 

[SonjaB]

Ditto, Snoops

 

[Pooh93]

Raising my hand in agreement with Snoopy and SonjaH. Let us know how she "feels" tomorrow.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Unless you're her boss, I wouldn't be making any more phone calls to doctor's or hospitals looking for her. And, unless you already told other people about your phone calls, keep it to yourself...you won't have to be in the middle of anything.

 

[KimRaye]

Chris, is this the same co-worker you posted about before?

If so, I agree with snoopy and others, she's milking this so-called job for all she can get, without doing the work.

Seen it happen before.

 

[MermaidsMom]

You should MYOB on this one. If you tattle you may end up in trouble for "violating her privacy" by calling the ER.

 

[Toodles524]

I know there is a new privacy law that has gone into effect in the last few weeks. I'm not sure if they could even tell you if she was there. Of couse, I'm not sure exactly how it reads pertaining to that, but I know they cannot give out any information on a patient and they are having to have paperwork signed to verify they have supplied the patient with the information on the new law. ...........just a thought.......................

 

[LarryE]

least you are kind enough to check on her and be slightly worried..

even if the out come isn't the best your still a better person for doing so

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by Toodles524
I know there is a new privacy law that has gone into effect in the last few weeks. I'm not sure if they could even tell you if she was there. Of couse, I'm not sure exactly how it reads pertaining to that, but I know they cannot give out any information on a patient and they are having to have paperwork signed to verify they have supplied the patient with the information on the new law. ...........just a thought.......................

Yes, while your suspicions may be true...you just never know. Maybe the hospital did not reveal she was there.
Something to think about.

 

[DNSDisney]

Maybe she went to her doctors office instead of the ER. There could be many answers to this. I personally would stay out of it unless you are her boss.

 

[December99]

This isn't worth it. Sorry I brought it back to the top.

 

[jamsmom]

When I worked for the tech company and was resposible for payroll stuff, we simply requested a doctor's note/ ER slip, etc. because we had previously taken every thing told to us as truth. We had the employee manual re-done, distributed it and required a signature for the file that it had been received and read.

After that, the one employee that had been so sick so much before made it to work more often!

 

[Regina]

Toodles is 100% correct.

My sister called me earlier this week. She was going to the ER as a result of having a bad reaction to some medication. I called there a few hours later and they weren't allowed to so much as tell me that she was there. To quote "it's a new law and I could lose my job if I give you any information." Fortunately, she called me from home shortly after that and she'll be fine.

Perhaps you misinterpreted what the hospital told you. It's now impossible to get any information.

 

[December99]

Well the hospital asked me what time she would have come there and said "No one by that name has been here at all today and if she were still here we would be happy to forward you in to talk to her". I know it's a law but they broke it because they did tell me she hadn't been there and did not even see that name on the list of people that checked in.