I'm up in triage last night going through whatever complaint this lady has and typing away when I noticed she is staring at me looking wicked pissed. I ask her if something is wrong and she rolls her eyes and says, " I know you're not really typing anything! That's just a black screen! I'm not stupid." Oh, no. I hadn't even thought about that angle, but I'm sure now that we're out there charting everyone thinks we're just out there dicking around on the sleeping computers and not getting their meds just to be hateful.
That's almost as brilliant as not being able to put the specific medications on the allergy bands because it's medical information. I'd love to get ahold of whatever the hell they're smoking at these meetings where they come up with this stuff.
As a patient with allergies: I want my allergies clearly listed on the allergy band. I don't care if the general public knows that I am allergic to; the medical staff needs to know this information.
ReplyDeleteI think the people that come up with these "rules" are just attempting to justify their jobs at the expense of people's health and sanity.
It doesn't make sense, because most people with allergies have the official *allergy bracelet* that they bought from the drugstore with the list already engraved on them.
ReplyDeleteJust because the hospital does it, it's giving out info? I am sure the patient wouldn't object if they knew the potential dangers it poses NOT to have them listed on the hospital allergy band.
What next.
I am glad I am almost done with my career. How much more bizarre can it get?
What about those who have 50 allergies? I can see it now, allergy bracelets all the way to the armpit. We were told we don't write the allergies because when the nurse sees the bracelet they are to ask what the allergies are.
ReplyDelete@Cienna2K: No crap! HIPAA be damned; whatever it takes to keep them from shooting me up with stuff that'll kill me. I'm pretty sure HIPAA was intended to keep people from shouting someone's STD results, not to keep life-saving information from going out. Well, if it weren't for side effects, there'd be no effect to government regulations at all.
ReplyDeleteasking what the allergies are can be tricky when the pt is unconscious, delirious or otherwise impaired.... if they really have 50 then you are going to have to consult the chart anyway but it would be good to see any life threatening ones identified on the pt... just sayin..
ReplyDeleteThat's almost as brilliant as not being able to put the specific medications on the allergy bands...
ReplyDeleteNewsflash: The nameband right next to the allergy band has the patient's full name on it.
Morons....all of them at JCAHO & AHCA. Soooo sick of them coming up with garbage that has no common sense in the real world. What next...disguises for patients so they cannot be recognized...just in case a friend or neighbor is at the hospital at the same time?
ReplyDeleteAnd so what if someone knows what someone else's allergy is. What are they going to do with that info? Sell it to the Enquirer? Force them to take the med they're allergic to? Laugh at them? Absolutely freaking ridiculous!
"I'd love to get ahold of whatever the hell they're smoking at these meetings where they come up with this stuff."
ReplyDeletehaha. I guess the issue of confidentiality of nurses and other medical practitioners on what is happening at the hospital is very important, yet that computer screen that you have in that hospital has a big disadvantage too. :)
Thanks for sharing,
Peny@sphygmomanometer