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Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 10:07:06 AM

pahunkboy

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From: Central Pennsylvania
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I am fit to be tied. A buddy was in the hospital for 2 days. He has no clue what his problem was. Released, not really cured, and with no diagnosis- that they told him.

I plugged in his symptoms to the web... and come up with thryroid. I have just now reached him to explain what I found.

I suggested if he has further problems, for him to go to our areas world class medical facility- and not the local hospital.

If by chance anyone has any thryroid info they want to share- please do.

This guy would go to bat- for almost anyone, and has.

Anyhow. Im streaming. Thanks.

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 10:24:03 AM

MsChatelaine

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No one is released from a hospital without a Discharge Diagnosis. It's required by law to complete the medical chart. Unfortunately, patients sometimes don't know the right person to ask to get the right information. Some people are afraid of "questioning" a doctor. Bullshit.

Your friend should call his doctor's office and ask plainly for his diagnosis. If he encounters resistance, call or go to the Medical Records (Health Information Management) dept in the hospital. I promise you they have a chart there on him that either contains a diagnosis, or is in the Doctor's "Return for more information box" waiting for him to enter a diagnosis. IF, by some freak reason, THIS does not get an answer, call or go to the hospital Administration offices and {calmly} explain the problem.
I worked in hospital information for 10 years; trust me, this is the best way for him to proceed. And don't blame all the fault on the hospital. When caring for human beings ever becomes a priority in this country again, only then will the people working in our hospitals (and nursing homes) be able to give you service the way they wish they could! This is why I had to quit; I loved helping people, but I couldn't stand the underfunding, the government BS and the corporate conglomerates causing more harm to people in their moments of greatest need.

Whether the Discharge Diagnosis is meaningful or not will be another topic... but there IS one or will quickly be one, I promise you. I wish you both the best!

Princess Chatelaine

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 11:10:29 AM

timeoutgurlie

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Sorry to hear this, hope the advice from MC will help

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 11:38:27 AM

pahunkboy

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From: Central Pennsylvania
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Thanks-

Nothing much happens here on a weekend. My buddy isnt too energetic, I dont really know that he has absorbed what I have told him so far. I am considering phoning his DR. They cant talk to me, but I can talk to them. A different DR filled in for his regular DR.

I dont want to overstep the line.

Being that he seems unable to express himself right now... Ill see if his mood changes. I know he and his DR have a good repore.

-regards

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 11:55:03 AM

feastie

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Having worked in the family medicine environment and the hospital environment, I feel I must relate the following:

Calling his doctor won't accomplish anything. They will not listen to you because you are not the patient or the patient's family. You also don't know what he chose for his release of information (HIPAA) agreement and they are not going to step into that particular noose by discussing him and his medical conditions with you at all, including listening to what you have to say.

Your friend should have been given discharge papers which tell his diagnosis, description of his illness, instructions including any medications or advice to follow up with his personal physician. If he did not receive this, then I have to wonder if he packed up and left before actually being "discharged" or if he just didn't read all the paperwork he came home with.

He can go back to the hospital and ask for copies of his medical records. He can call his personal physician to make an appointment to discuss it with him.

As much as you care for your friend, and I see that you do, there is very little you can do about this, other than offering him a ride to the hospital or doctor's office and just being his friend.

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Disclaimer: Any views expressed in any post are my opinions only. They may or may not be yours.

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 6:23:06 PM

amativedame

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When you mention thyroid, what are you referencing specifically? Hypo, hyper or something totally different?

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 6:26:22 PM

sugarplumm

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needs to go to a endroclogist for this thyoid problem

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 6:31:40 PM

sugarplumm

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makes u fatigue sleepy your thyoid is on each sode of your throat if it swollen u need to see the endrologist. also makes u have tremors weak leg muscles cant swallow your food that is hyperthyoid.

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 7:01:00 PM

maybemaybenot

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The only thing I can add to what others have said about contacting the hospital or the MD for your friends discharge summary/diagnosis is this:

Many health insurances have your medical record available to you online. It will list each MD appointment, hospitalization, test, Physical therapy etc and the corresponding diagnosis for each one.

mbmbn

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/18/2006 10:12:19 PM

FangsNfeet

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Assuming your friend was in a hospital of the USA, he has the right by law to have a complete copy of his chart. This includes MD notes, test results, Nurses notes, Medications notes, and all orders written test and medication wise.

As for not knowing what the problem was, well he did get better. Not everyone can be diagnosed and yet the symptoms go away after a day or two. Sometimes, symptoms go away before the diagnosis can be made. Either way, just be glad your friend is well. As for getting down to the bottom to of things, obtain a copy of the chart and follow up an appointment with a doctor or two.

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/19/2006 6:12:13 AM

wandersalone

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Just to be the devils advocate, you mention that your friend seems unable to express himself at the moment. Could it be that he was given a bit more information about his health but has been unable to clearly explain this to you? Once the weekend is over go with him to his local doctor to get the information you are looking for - I had a nurse friend attend a gp appointment with me and my doctor explained everything to her since I was in shock!!!! I was in hospital 3 times earlier this year (in Australia so it may be different here) and each time I was discharged they gave me a copy of a release form with reason for hospitalisation, medications/treatment on discharge etc and this was also sent to my specialists and g.p.

I do hope your friends health improves, he is lucky to have a friend like you. :)

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/19/2006 6:26:57 AM

pahunkboy

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I want to thank everyone for the kind and informitive replies [on and off the board]

I have known this guy, for 16 years. I dont want to be on his bad side. I encouraged him to have the stomache staple obesity surgery last year. His symtoms are low blood preesure, low body temp, low pulse, no energy, sleep all the time, prior to this; they thought a bone fragment is caught in his larnex. Throat. The hospital did rx a new med. Oh- a different Dr filed in...not his regular DR. I am not afraid of phoning his DR office or going in person and presenting a note. I dont [however] want to crash this guys space. [age 50, 1 yr off of the stomach staple surgery, diabetis in family] A 3way phone call can be made, for that matter. I live in a small town. While the DR cant talk to me under HIPPA, I can tell them what I know to be true. Tho- the right wording, and possible writing it out would be best.

Today is Monday. I will call over soon and see if he is coherent at all.

I very much do not want to crash his space.

This type of ailment is new to me/us. And I very much appreciate the comments here. It helps fill in the gaps, and pieces together.

Thanks again.... :-)

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/24/2006 12:39:33 PM

wandersalone

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How is your friend doing now? Any further news? He has been in my thoughts

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RE: Hospital not telling patient! rant - 6/24/2006 12:49:27 PM

carolsea

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From: North Carolina
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You mention "stomach staple surgery" - which one? There are many kinds. I do know that not all of them educate the patient ahead of time as they should, and there can be many poor effects from improper nutrition (which is DIFFERENT for a bypass patient because of malabsorption). Has he seen his GBS doc? Does he go for regular check ups? Was he possibly enough "out of it" that he didn't remember or hear what they told him in the hospital?

I work in health care, too, and also have been researching gastric bypass surgery, and I know that not all of those surgeries are the same, nor are they smart. I also have several friends who have had different ones, and I've seen some of the things they go through. Do the people at that particular hospital know that he had GBS? Many many questions!

I do echo what most have said here, especially those talking about medical records. HIPAA regulations are very strict, and unless they have written permission from the patient, they cannot even given information to a family member. So be sure of all those things before getting too upset. Yes, hospital personnel can be overworked and tired, but they also have regulations they have to follow, and in this age of privacy and access to personal information, they have even more.

Good luck to you, and bless you for being such a good advocate for your friend!

Bright blessings
Carolsea

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