Is this a violation of Hippa laws

[jack4mass]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts


I went to an orthopedic doctor for back problems. I called back the next day for pain medication for which they mailed me a prescription. My wife called back a few days later to request an mri symptoms did not change she also told them that the prescription wasn't helping. This took several calls and messages before I got a responsewhich was the office nurse informed me that she had called my doctor telling them that I had been calling them looking for pain medication "which I wasn't" and an mri she also informed me that the doctor would not treat me any more and that I was to see a spine specialist, to which I informed her that I never called for pain medication only wanted an mri because conditions weren't getting any better, she informed me that I was to call Heather "a nurse" at my primary doctor and that she called and explained the situation to Heather already, when my wife called Heather she informed her that the orthopedic nurse had called her stating that I had called her looking for pain medication and not an mri which in turn caused a series of events which led to my primary doctor dropping me under his care. i feel this nurse over stepped her bounds thanks in advance for any help

[ecmst12]

HIPAA has nothing to do with any of this. The specialist's office is not only PERMITTED to communicate with your PCP, they're REQUIRED to do so. It's for treatment purposes.

MRIs are usually not called for with back pain until a few weeks of physical therapy and anti-inflamatory meds are tried without improvement. You need to let your DOCTOR direct the course of treatment.

Also, YOU should call, not your wife, unless there is some reason that you can't (like you're unconscious or incapacitated).

[lealea1005]

I called back the next day for pain medication for which they mailed me a prescription. My wife called back a few days later to request an mri symptoms did not change she also told them that the prescription wasn't helping. This took several calls and messages before I got a response....

I can certainly see how the office nurse would think you were calling, repeatedly, requesting additional pain medication.

As mentioned before...this has noting to do with HIPAA (not HIPPA). The Ortho is expected to communicate with your PCP for continuity of care purposes.

[lya]

Originally Posted by lealea1005

I can certainly see how the office nurse would think you were calling, repeatedly, requesting additional pain medication.

As mentioned before...this has noting to do with HIPAA (not HIPPA). The Ortho is expected to communicate with your PCP for continuity of care purposes.

To expand on lealea's first sentence in the above quote: A patient seeking medical care for unresolved pain and/or unresolved physical complaint calls the physician's office to get an appointment for a physical exam and treatment. A patient seeking pain meds calls the office, or has someone else call the office, to request pain relieving meds.

Additionally--

Agreed, HIPAA has nothing to do with the OP's scenario; but--it is one thing for the office nurse to relay information to the PCP; it is 'another' thing to relay the information with such a slant as to cause the patient to lose TWO physicians, especially the PCP. Professional communication from the office nurse should have been along the lines of, "Mr. X was seen on (date) for (complaint), received (treatment), and reports continuing pain but has not requested a follow-up appointment. Dr. Z will not be providing further services to the patient."--end of story--no need to prejudice the PCP against the patient with personal opinions of the patient's drug seeking.

The OP can file a complaint with the states' board of nursing; but, I don't believe the lack of professional communication skills will rise to the level of disciplinary measures being taken--a warning and a suggestion, maybe.

[jack4mass]

let me clear a few things
1 wife called for me as where i work (outside construction) i have no phone reception
2 she requested a mri because the pain didnt go away ,and because when i asked for one whenii was in doctors office he said it would be a waste of money because he could see it was disc degeneration
3 she never called asking for more meds but just to say that what he had gave me didnt help and i wanted a mri because i was worried it was somthing serious
also i have been to physical therapy ,taken countless anti -inflamatory meds
along with narcotic meds ,pain injections all either from my primary doc,this ortho doc or spine doctor
this has been going on for some time and was not my first visit to this doctor
but it had been over a year since i last saw him
in the end i got my mri which show i have 6 yes 6 buldging discs among other issues i just felt the nurse didnt like me and had a issue with my tattoos ,so she went out of her way to make me look bad