stupid careles 2%$^&&% therapist

[bartleby]

he agreed not to leave his full name on answering machine because i dont have my own phone line. And not to use letterhead if he sent me a letter because i dont have my own box share both with perp mother. So he left a message with his full name about missing an appointment and sends a letter with his counseling agency letterhead. That makes 2 out of 2 therapists i have seen that were not confidential.

 

[MrDon]

I think I would report the therapist. I'm not trying to be mean towards therapists in general but this guy needs to learn what confidentiality is. There is a thing called HIPPA as well. Even in my massage practice, I am very conscientious about leaving messages and normally won't leave one unless I know that the number is a private voice mail. I'm very careful with that. It isn't rocket science either.

The therapists that I had very seldom did call me but if they did (even at work), they would just give their first name and to have me call them. Nothing more than that and no one knew who they were or what they were calling about.

I would definately file a report on this guy with the state licensing board.

Don

 

[CFO Dave]

That stinks! I agree with Don, it's worth investigating a report to the state.

I don't know all the details contained within the HIPPA law but it sure sounds like a violation to me.

When I first started seeing my T I gave specific instructions that I was only to be contacted on my cell phone. Of course, when their office doesn't reach me on the cell, they call the house!!! At that point it didn't matter so much because I had told my wife by then but still.

 

[Lloydy]

Bartleby
What happened is wrong, if you have given express instuctions about how to contact you then they should be adhered to.
If I was in your position I would take this issue further.

I know that at the charity I work for here in the UK we have clients whose partners / families who don't know about their abuse / therapy. One woman I know tells her husband she's going to Weight Watchers!
It can be a very personal thing for many Survivors, and that HAS to be respected.

I hope that any damage done can be repaired without too much further trauma for you.

Dave

 

[Dan88]

I'm not sure if what you describe is a violation of HIPAA or not. Generally appointment reminders are allowed. But it must also be in line with the "notice of privacy practices" that he provided you with. If he did not provide you with the notice, that's a separate violation in and of itself.

In any case it's certainly insensitive to your situation and a breach of his word.

If you want to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, which enforces HIPAA privacy regulations, the link below will tell you how to go about doing it.

https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/