'At least 50' hospital employees fired over Jussie Smollett medical records access

americanthinker.com ^ | 3/9/2019 | Thomas Lifson

[rktman]

The consequences deriving from the allegedly false hate crime report of Jussie Smollett are vast. The expression "collateral damage" is appropriate.

Whatever his fate, now that he was written out of his part on a TV show and indicted for 16 felony counts related to his allegedly false reporting of a hate crime, dozens of other people are suffering career catastrophes derived from the scandal's aftermath.

At least 50 employees may have been fired from Northwestern Memorial Hospital for accessing the medical profile and records of "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett without authorization, sources with knowledge of the situation said.

One of those employees — identified simply as Susan, to protect her identity — said that with one click of her mouse, she was fired from her job as a surgical nurse last week.

[Steely Tom]

They had scandals in the past when people would rifle though their neighbor’s taxes, but that was over 10 years ago. I haven’t heard of anything since.

I remember. I think they looked at some celebrities too, like Angelina Jolie and Michelle Pfeiffer, IIRC.

It's amazing they haven't leaked PDJTs. The penalties must be really stiff.

[rktman]

Here gerbil, gerbil, gerbil..........

[BobL]

Absolutely!

[Hot Tabasco]

At least 50' hospital employees fired

Don't think there were very many that tall.....

[deport]

[Yaelle]

Um... YUCK.

;)

[Mastador1]

OH MY GOD, I guess that makes my question and points moot than Eh? Did I violate an oath?

[HamiltonJay]

Accessing a persons medical records inappropriately is a HIPAA violation and will result in instant firing in any organization. Anyone who has access to medical records is taught this in orientation for their jobs.

These 50 people are stupid and have no one to blame but themselves.

I have zero pity for these people.

[marktwain]

Curiosity killed the cat but in this case 50 peoples careers.

Most of them can get jobs very quickly. The healthcare field is always wanting people; the economy is hot.

[vetvetdoug]

However, insurance companies share information with all other insurance agencies. Any notation on a medical form is automatically shared with ALL insurance companies, health and life insurance companies.

[Flaming Conservative]

She won’t lose her license unless the hospital makes a formal complaint to them.

[Flaming Conservative]

Ever wonder why Trump’s taxes have not been leaked?

---

Because it’s not close enough to the election -— THAT’S why.

[BobL]

It was 2 and a half years ago, and it was a big issue, whether people thought Trump would win or not.

[Flaming Conservative]

However, insurance companies share information with all other insurance agencies. Any notation on a medical form is automatically shared with ALL insurance companies, health and life insurance companies.

---

Ding ding ding ding ding! And we have a winner!
Years ago, after HIPAA was passed, we were required to go to an orientation for it. The presenter said the bill was a stack of paperwork about 3 feet high, and that though it was pushed on people as a way their records could be protected, the main reason was so insurance companies would have a record of EVERYTHING in your medical file. At that time, pre-existing conditions were still being denied. But the system REALLY got what the politicians wanted when obamacare was passed, because it lumped insurance data with medicare/medicaid records. The congressmen who pushed this thing did it with government health care for all, in mind. And if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that all doctors and medical facilities who accept Medicare and Medicaid, or obamacare, had to install all new computer systems, to link up with the government. And you should have seem posters in their offices, informing you that all medical record’s would now be interconnected with your other doctors and your pharmacy. All for our own good, of course.../S

[Flaming Conservative]

You mean the one page form Rachel Maddow hyped, which turned out to be another “Al Capone’s vault”?

[Tallguy]

Does anybody think this would have happened if a prominent white conservative were admitted to that hospital under similar controversy? I don’t either.

[Tallguy]

I don’t doubt you’ll get a lot of applicants, but it may take a year to fill all 50 positions with competent people. My company sees this all the time... people walking in the door with decent resumes & references who can’t do the job.

[Mom MD]

Wrong. There is a huge nursing shortage nationwide. Particularly bachelor degree nurses with the necessary experience to work in a hospital. That said accessing charts you have no business in is a firing offense every time. No discussion or appeal. And nurses know that

[radiohead]

/HIPPA is drilled into the heads of everybody in the healthcare industry, and EVERY inquiry is logged...

/Yep. Academia too, as I was informed in no uncertain terms. Mandatory briefings, papers to sign. Nobody is unaware.

I audit human subjects research at a major university, much of which takes place in the hospital. Clinical trials that use information covered by HIPAA require that the subject receive a signed copy of the consent form.

I have to report to the review board if that has not occurred - even if the subject received a copy, but not a signed copy. That’s the rules. I have seen researchers called before the board for failing to do this simple thing. Though I haven’t seen this happen, the board can force the researcher to destroy any data from a subject who was not properly consented (usually there is a way to correct this, such as send a copy of the signed consent on file to the subject).

Personally, I was surprised to see that nurses did this. I thought it might have been low level employees in the records office. The nurses know better and deserve to be fired.

[Karoo]

I agree.