Did I get somebody fired?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238296)
Walnut Creek, California
December 22, 2016 1:14pm CST
I've mentioned in the past that my doctor is not the most competent, nor is he the most compassionate.
The other day, I emailed him about renewing my back pain meds. I got a generic message back from an "assistant" I'd never heard of saying the doctor wanted me to visit him. The part she had written was in broken English and utterly incomprehensible. The message also did not say whether the prescription had been filled.
I wrote her back and inquired about the prescription. I got the exact same message back, but with the full name of another patient on it! And still no information about whether the prescription had been filled.
I wrote the doctor directly, inquiring about the prescription, and letting him know that a massive HIPAA violation had occurred. HIPAA is the body that sets policy on client confidentiality. We get a training each year on when, and with whom, it's OK to divulge clients' names.
I wonder if his "assistant" is still with him.
23 people like this
24 responses
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
22 Dec 16
It sounds totally incompetent and messed up. I did get a para let go for similar, when I went to have lunch with my son's stepson at school. She said "Oh, he is in with the counselor, he was having a melt down." I repeated this to the Principal. By the time Michael and I finished lunch I could see the girl in the office. Later she showed up as a medical receptionist for one of my clients, and I was very wary of her.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238296)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Dec 16
I'd only use a term like "meld down" with a parent I already had a good relationship with. IF that was part of our common language. But I tend to use more "positive" terms, as a part of my job is to help parents see their kids in a positive light.
@topffer (42155)
• France
22 Dec 16
I need to trust a doctor, and I would change if I was thinking that mine is incompetent. For the violation, I would have perhaps told him, but not write it, I would not like to have people fired for a mistake because of me, especially at this time of the year.
1 person likes this
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@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
23 Dec 16
i feel fer ya, hon. 's fer that assistant? prolly didn't get fired. when one 'f my doc's offices printed out my medical records fer me, i'd 3 other folks schtuff included. i brought such to their attention 'n all i got was 'oops'. yepperz, i worked the medical field fer many years'n know that's a massive violation. 'pparently my doc didn't take't so serious.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
23 Dec 16
@TheHorse search me, i jest know they'd still a job :( scary thingy bein' that person went to nursin' school 'fter that doc moved back to lubbock. wonder if'n she learnt those rules there???
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238296)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Dec 16
@crazyhorseladycx She went to nursing school AFTER the doc went to Lubbock? What degree did she have before?
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
23 Dec 16
I was responsible for having a teacher relieved of her job once. She was behaving very inappropriately with her students. The students were discussing it amongst each other while I was driving them to a community service activity. I then questioned my children, made an appointment with the principal.....who followed up. The teacher was gone within a week.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238296)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Dec 16
@Morleyhunt When you're a good listener, you can gather a lot of information! She sounds like a weirdo.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
23 Dec 16
@TheHorse she was a full busted woman, in her early 50's.....her buttons were rarely all done up....that was minor....discipline for the boys...she would kiss them (grade 6-8). Verbally haranguing one or two students who had learning disabilities (integrated classes)....the list went on. I enjoyed driving these kids once a week. They chatted openly about almost anything and spoke freely to each other. As long as I didn't criticize or gasp they talked.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238296)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Dec 16
I would have thought so too. Maybe she was hired to work with Spanish-speaking patients. But if she's going to be asked to work with English-speaking clients as well, I feel she should be proficient in English too, especially at a big place like Kaiser.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Dec 16
well, that is a big deal, and obv if her English is that bad, then they needed to not be doing that job!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Dec 16
@TheHorse One would assume, you know, that's a job that I could do from home, answer someone's emails for them. Ghost write, etc!
@RasmaSandra (97993)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Dec 16
Is it possible to change doctors. I mean this is such a mess up. Plus that is awful that you cannot get your medication.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
23 Dec 16
Oh good grief!! That is nuts @TheHorse .
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
22 Dec 16
Geez, that sounds like the assistants at my old thyroid doctor's place. He wasn't the best person either and his staff was even worse. I put in many complaints and moved do a different doctor because I didn't want my life in their hands.
Hopefully something is done about that assistant because, wow, many people work hard for that kind of job, not someone incompetent like that.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
22 Dec 16
@TheHorse I have no idea. some of these assistances I really question how they get hired when there are many qualified people that get turned down.
@snowy22315 (208841)
• United States
22 Mar 17
Well perhaps it needed to happen. I am always afraid though, as part of my work in fact most of it involves evaluation, that I will get someone fired..so i try to write reports as generously as possible while still being honest and stating the facts
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
22 Dec 16
Obviously, the assistant should be let go but I think I would get me to another doctor post haste, he sounds like not much of winner either.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
23 Dec 16
I'm wondering if you ever got your meds. I certainly hope that assistant is no longer there...
@teamfreak16 (43581)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Dec 16
Breaking HIPPA law is serious business.
1 person likes this
