I am in shock and so upset. I needed my pcp to fill out a form for medical necessity for the surgery. She also needed to fill in my weights, comorbidities and also a years worth of progress notes from my visits. I faxed the form from work to their office, with a letter stating they could notify me when completed and I would pick it up. Well......a coworker came in to me today with a fax for me. All of my personal health information, my weight for the past year AND the fact that I am in the process of qualifying for bariatric surgery was for anyone to read. They randomly faxed this information to my employer. I have no idea how they got the fax number. I could not believe it. My employer has no idea I am having surgery. Or at least HAD no idea. A good friend got the fax and brought it to me. Next thing I knew, another person gave me another copy that was faxed. Not sure what else is floating around.

I am hoping it wasn't read, and I did ask the coworker to keep it quiet. I blasted the doctors office. But I am truly so upset. I wanted to wait until I was approved before i told work. I just feel like any moment someone else is going to drop off my personal health information at my office door

Just venting. Ugh!!!

I am in the business of faxing confidential information daily, patients medical info, numerous times per day. What I faxed my doctors office was a form with blank info for them to fill out. It had my name on it. Not confidential. What they faxed to a random fax number at my large office was confidential. = HIPPA VIOLATION.

It's your move.

What are you willing to do about the violation? Every medical office has a "HIPPA representative. Some one could very likely lose their job.

You would be justified--if that would "make it better".

It's your move.

Please read the above. I feel you must have forgotten it.

God Bless.

I am in shock and so upset. I needed my pcp to fill out a form for medical necessity for the surgery. She also needed to fill in my weights, comorbidities and also a years worth of progress notes from my visits. I faxed the form from work to their office, with a letter stating they could notify me when completed and I would pick it up. Well......a coworker came in to me today with a fax for me. All of my personal health information, my weight for the past year AND the fact that I am in the process of qualifying for bariatric surgery was for anyone to read. They randomly faxed this information to my employer. I have no idea how they got the fax number. I could not believe it. My employer has no idea I am having surgery. Or at least HAD no idea. A good friend got the fax and brought it to me. Next thing I knew, another person gave me another copy that was faxed. Not sure what else is floating around.

I am hoping it wasn't read, and I did ask the coworker to keep it quiet. I blasted the doctors office. But I am truly so upset. I wanted to wait until I was approved before i told work. I just feel like any moment someone else is going to drop off my personal health information at my office door

Just venting. Ugh!!!

I know.... I hate office community fax machines... mines wasn't about wls at the time but my chapter 13!!! info... so I either fax at stamples or write on fax sheet DO NOT REPLY BACK WITH A FAX...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G530AZ using the BariatricPal App

I obvious don't post...the struggle is real.

Edited April 9, 201610 yr by aforrest1

[emoji107]

Edited April 9, 201610 yr by aforrest1

HIPPA is set by the Federal Government, true, however by doing so our government has set into the language of HIPPA intended "loopholes" for "inpractice information sharing". It is there. One has to know where to look for it, but it is there.

Is it intended to be misused? Absolutely not. It was included for the intent of keeping frillilous HIPPA lawsuits from gumming up an already overloaded Federal Court system.

I was simply trying to point out that one should NEVER fax (or text) ANYTHING that one does not Joe Public to see. In today's world, if one insists on truly confidential info exchange, hand deliver.

HIPPA is set by the Federal Government, true, however by doing so our government has set into the language of HIPPA intended "loopholes" for "inpractice information sharing". It is there. One has to know where to look for it, but it is there.

Is it intended to be misused? Absolutely not. It was included for the intent of keeping frillilous HIPPA lawsuits from gumming up an already overloaded Federal Court system.

I was simply trying to point out that one should NEVER fax (or text) ANYTHING that one does not Joe Public to see. In today's world, if one insists on truly confidential info exchange, hand deliver.

Valentina,

HIPPA does allow provider to provider communication, they can disclose pertinent protected health information about a mutual patient without consent from the patient or a parent under certain circumstances. The federal government sets the minimum standards for HIPPA, individual states can supersede the minmums by mandating additional restrictions. However, the particular situation the original poster shared did not meet sharing of PHI between providers outlined by HIPPA. I don't usually comment but providing partially correct information to prove a point that was not needed got my attention today. Next time, maybe help support the person. Discouraging words when someone is vulnerable can create undue stress.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using the BariatricPal App

HIPPA is set by the Federal Government, true, however by doing so our government has set into the language of HIPPA intended "loopholes" for "inpractice information sharing". It is there. One has to know where to look for it, but it is there.

Is it intended to be misused? Absolutely not. It was included for the intent of keeping frillilous HIPPA lawsuits from gumming up an already overloaded Federal Court system.

I was simply trying to point out that one should NEVER fax (or text) ANYTHING that one does not Joe Public to see. In today's world, if one insists on truly confidential info exchange, hand deliver.

Valentina,

HIPPA does allow provider to provider communication, they can disclose pertinent protected health information about a mutual patient without consent from the patient or a parent under certain circumstances. The federal government sets the minimum standards for HIPPA, individual states can supersede the minmums by mandating additional restrictions. However, the particular situation the original poster shared did not meet sharing of PHI between providers outlined by HIPPA. I don't usually comment but providing partially correct information to prove a point that was not needed got my attention today. Next time, maybe help support the person. Discouraging words when someone is vulnerable can create undue stress.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using the BariatricPal App

Obviously, YOU did not read my first post. Please go back and read it!

The OP, herself stated that she worked within the same health network. I TRIED to point out that before she went into litigation she may want to explore if there was anyway the HIPPA laws and the alleged violation would not hold.

As a Newbie, you obviously haven't read many of my posts. Before you comment negatively about me, maybe it would behoove you to do so.

Prayers going up for you.

Obviously, YOU did not read my first post. Please go back and read it!

The OP, herself stated that she worked within the same health network. I TRIED to point out that before she went into litigation she may want to explore if there was anyway the HIPPA laws and the alleged violation would not hold.

As a Newbie, you obviously haven't read many of my posts. Before you comment negatively about me, maybe it would behoove you to do so.

Prayers going up for you.

I read the thread but I appreciate your attempt to enlighten me.

Thanks for the prayers....

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using the BariatricPal App