Yes, I’m talking about in person, not over the phone. And I don’t stand for that.
My husband had a stroke, and I’m his caregiver. He is always with me, so when I say I’m asking for his records, actually he is there asking for the records, and I’m just handling the details.
The latest episode took place at the VA. DH had just been examined by a nurse there. We requested she forward the records of the exam to his primary care manager, who is not part of the VA. I do that at every doctor appointment, and they always tell me who in their office handles that, and they make sure the records are available to that person.
Hubby has multiple health issues, and sees so many doctors, I’m vigilant about all of his records being sent to his PCM. It’s no big deal, and it makes everything go smoothly. Usually. But not this time.
The nurse told me because of HIPAA, she couldn’t forward his records without a request from his PCM. I told her we routinely have all records sent to his PCM. We fill out a release, DH signs it, and the records get sent to his PCM. She said all the doctors who comply with that request are in violation of HIPAA.
She also said we had to make the request through his PCM, and we had to sign the request in the presence of his PCM, about 80 miles away from the VA, about 60 miles from our home. Seriously. She wanted us to drive 80 miles to the PCM’s office, sign a release, and drive 60 miles back home. When I put it to her that way, she suggested I wait until his next appointment with the PCM, and sign all the release forms for the records at the VA and other doctor’s offices at that time.
I started to explain that his PCM needed to have all the records in advance of his next visit, but I stopped myself. That’s the point when I realized she is a moron, and I stopped trying to reason with her.
When we left her office, I stopped at the front desk, requested they forward the records, signed the release, and left. Next appointment with his PCM I’ll check to see if they got the records.
Crazy absolutely nuts. That nurse if she knew HIPPA at all should know the patient himself (or his authorized caregiver) has the right to his medical records at any time. You can literally walk out of there with a copy if you wanted.
Crazy. Yet another gift of burdensome regulation.
And of course being a VA employee she can never be fired for such incompetence. All she has to do is say she was worried about violating HIPPA and she’s off the hook. Which is like saying she’s worried the sun will explode.