What would yall do?

[usmcwife89]

I've had problems with the receptionist at my OB for all 8 some months I've been going there. To keep the background part short: she has hounded me for the first 5 (yes 5!) months of my pregnancy about my insurance. Asking why I am using my work insurance over tricare. (DH is military) Once I complained to office manager and she stopped that it was just one thing after another. Literally made me dread going to the OB which no pregnant woman should have to do! She took it so far as to call my husbands command and ask if they knew I was pregnant and not using their insurance for the pregnancy. Total breach of HIPAA if you ask me. But anywho- today the same receptionist saw me at the grocery store and was making rude comments to me about reporting her to the office manager and about my pregnancy in general. She has tracked me down on FB and sent me messages saying the same stuff.

What would you do? Seems as if the office manager doesn't take this serious as I know I'm not the only one to complain about said woman.

[kmcookie]

Honestly, I would bring it up directly to your doctor. She is repeatedly violating HIPAA in ways that are egregious and, frankly, a little creepy. What is her obsession with Tricare???

It turns out the nurse at my OB is friends with my BFF through a twins group, and they figured it out while at an event. "Oh you work in that doctor building? My friend's OB is there!" The nurse wouldn't even confirm with my friend that she knew exactly who my friend was referring to!

[dacora]

Wow, WTF. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this bullshit, that's outrageous. Can you take screenshots of the online harassment and take it with you to the office manager? Heck, if you have a good relationship with your doctor, I'd consider mentioning it to them (normally I wouldn't suggest this, having worked for doctors they tend to dislike being involved in these matters). I'm not familiar with how military offices work, but there has to be someone higher than the office manager you can complain to. And that was definitely a breach of HIPAA, which is incredibly serious.

[smyers2girls]

I would definately find someone to bring that up to! That seems outrageous to me. She has no right to call your husbands command and to track you down on Facebook and leave you messages on there has to be in some way illegal. Sorry you have to deal with that!

[usmcwife89]

She is totally unprofessional! I go to an OB out in town so I don't know why she cared what insurance I used.

I will definitely take screenshots of the messages she has sent me and show them to the office manager. I will have to call tomorrow to find out, but does every doctor office have a doctor "in charge" or head doctor. DH told me to talk to that doctor but I wasn't sure what he meant.

[munchkin8590]

yeah that's ridiculous. You should definitely tell the Dr. You shouldn't have to deal with that, especially while pregnant.

[mrsclark731]

Wow. Totally unprofessional and WEIRD. None of that is normal. At all.

Talk to your doctor, and the office manager. Print out the FB messages to show to them and then block her ass. Tell them both about the behavior including the odd grocery store encounter.

Sorry you have to go through this! It is really wierd and creepy. Keep us updated!

[dacora]

Jan 15, 2015 18:02:58 GMT -5 usmcwife89 said:

She is totally unprofessional! I go to an OB out in town so I don't know why she cared what insurance I used.

I will definitely take screenshots of the messages she has sent me and show them to the office manager. I will have to call tomorrow to find out, but does every doctor office have a doctor "in charge" or head doctor. DH told me to talk to that doctor but I wasn't sure what he meant.

Okay, since it's an off-base office, here's my advice as someone who used to work in a medical office environment. (Seriously though, if it wasn't an on-base doctor, I really wonder why that lady gives a crap about you not using your military insurance... Or would think or know to call your husband's higher ups.)

Not every office has a doctor in charge. Some offices are owned by local hospitals, or are part of a larger corporation. In those situations, the doctors and the office manager are managed by another office. If the office manager is unwilling to help you, see if your OB can give you the information on who to speak with higher up the food chain. Definitely bring up the HIPAA violation, because that is something that you could take legal action against and that's the last thing that doctors offices want to deal with.

[mishka29]

Wow! She sounds like a crazy pants!

[WittyLittle]

WOAH that's really wrong. Really really wrong. I'm not familiar with insurance systems in the states but surely, as long as the insurance approves then it's story over for the receptionist (unless it's obvious fraud of course which doesn't seem to be the case). Bothering you about it for 5 months when it's already sorted is unnecessary and unprofessional, and messaging you through facebook is just plain creepy. I'd call the practice manager and inform them. This is a no go. How sucky, what a cow. Yuck :/

[boxerrrmama85]

Yikes! Awful situation. She must be reported immediately. She has broken one too many HIPPA rules.

[cinnamonsugar]

As an office manager for a primary care office, I can tell you that what is going on here is 100% a violation of HIPAA and she should be fired immediately. If the office manager doesn't take this seriously, you should talk directly to your provider. If she's violating your right to privacy, she has/will do it to someone else.

[cogdis]

That is crazy!

I would tell the office manager that I am going to file a complaint with the governing body. And, I would file a complaint with the governing body. That is so not cool!

I found this:
www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/

[rmsteele]

What a loon! I would definitely report the HIPAA violation and her FB stalking you to send you messages (could also be considered a HIPAA violation as FB is not a secure site and you can't send any health information unencrypted). I also don't understand why she would want to bill Tricare over commercial insurance, so many more hoops to jump through with Tricare. When I worked in a billing office, I preferred anything to billing Tricare!

[mommadozer]

So unfornate that you are dealing with something so rediciulous. Why the heck does she care so much? You are the one paying the doctor and insurance bills, not her. I would definitely report her to someone.

[sccurrier]

Holy crap I thought this was maybe happening ON base which would make a little more sense. This lady actually looked the number up to get to your husbands command?! First off, as far as I know that's not really an easy task and second off, is this lady seriously trying to get your husband in trouble?! Contacting someone's command is kind of a big deal and normally not over some stupid bullshit like this. It should not matter to her whatsoever which insurance you use, this lady is BSC.

[wendy46001]

Defiantly report the crazy lady to higher ups. In this instance I wouldn't care if the doctor doesn't want to deal with office issues either, I'd set up a meeting with both the office manager and the doctor to resolve this (aka fire her)

[hernsy]

I can't believe this! Her HIPAA/PHI violations are many and the fines for that are in no way small. I would tell the office manager and, as PP said, the hospital organization the provider may be connected to that you plan to file a grievance. I will tell you that if you file one with the proof of the facebook messages, they will get fined and she will most likely get fired. I would block her facebook in the event that she tries to continue to harass you. You sign paperwork yearly that says you understand that the provider's office can't disclose personal information about you and everything you have said is in violation.

[kaydee0402]

My husband is Navy and I read this to him. He said he would be livid if someone called his command about my personal, medical information, he would want the book thrown at them. My advice is to take it to the office manager. If that doesn't get you anywhere, go up the chain. Make sure you emphasize in your complaint that this is a total violation of HIPPA, patient privacy, whatever. And don't stop until you get the response you feel like you deserve.

[schnitz9]

I am my mother have worked in a medical office before. I actually asked her about this situation. We both suggest speaking with your Doc about this. Many of the times doctors are the ones who own the practice so in retrospect they are the ones who are really in charge. Yes they have office managers, but they are the managers bosses. If the office manager has not taken care of this then you need to go over their head. This is not just unprofessional but illegal. They effeminately violated HIPAA by going to the command officer. Also FB is a major violation of privacy too. Good Luck!

[trin42]

Holy crap! What a wackdo.

1. I'd call the clinic and ask for the office manager and tell them. Then,
2. At my next appt, I'd tell the OB the story and tell OB that you talked to the office manager.
3. If the receptionist keeps it up after that, I'd call the cops to make a report re: stalking or harassment

[michelle142]

Complain to your OB, the manager and anyone else in that building who will listen. That's ridiculous!!

www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/

[catladytx]

That is not OK in any way. You need to make sure someone is taking this seriously. I can almost guarantee that if she is doing this to you, she is doing it to others. She has no business sharing your info with anyone.

[Deleted]

I don't have any better or different advice than PP but just want to chime in that this is a seriously messed up sitch, and I encourage you to find anyone and everyone to report her to until something is done.

[gator26]

This is just bizarre. She sounds like a real nut- why would she possibly care which insurance you used? I would also let the doctor and office manager know what is going on. And then if she was still employed there by my next appointment, I would report the HIPPA violation.

[lrjjj08]

I would tell your doc. If she doesn't address it, the. I would find a new ob after baby comes!