Amazing, The Health Department Really Does Exist

[thegrammalady]

this is so delicious i'm still laughing. someone bitched and the health department shoowed up at the dialysis center this morning.  she took lots of notes, she was everywhere and looked into everything and talked to everyone. she even looked through my file because she overheard the nurse talking to my doctor about more antibiotics and wanted to make sure i didn't need them because of something the center had done.  when tatiana told me i just started to laugh and i'm still giggling just thinking about it i really don't think they have anything to worry about any problems the center has have nothing to do with being clean. but you never know.

[goofynina]

Hopefully it doesnt backfire and they do find something and close the place down (that is what happend to my first clinic)    it was 5 minutes from my house and we had to end up driving 45 minutes to another clinic until this one got situated and reopened, but i went on PD before it reopened (but its open now) 

[Black]

Are Health Dept inspections public records?  I think they are.  If I were you, I'd ask at the Health Dept and get a copy if they are.

[thegrammalady]

Are Health Dept inspections public records?  I think they are.  If I were you, I'd ask at the Health Dept and get a copy if they are.

that's something i hadn't thought of, good idea

[jbeany]

I'm not sure I'd like someone rooting thru my file - what happened to privacy?

[paddbear0000]

I'm not sure I'd like someone rooting thru my file - what happened to privacy?

Yeah. I don't recall the Health Department being listed in the HIPAA act as being one of the "entities" that has access to your medical records! 

[Hawkeye]

I'm not sure I'd like someone rooting thru my file - what happened to privacy?

Yeah. I don't recall the Health Department being listed in the HIPAA act as being one of the "entities" that has access to your medical records! 

The health department is a state run agency and yes they can look at the patient files to make sure things are correct.  As a matter of fact if you ever here that the state is visiting your facility the health department is who it most likely is.  The majority of the time they come out it is due to regular inspection and they look at some of the files then too to make sure that the patients are being properly taken care of.  If they receive a call and come out they are more likely to be looking at that specific patients records unless they overhear something or the calls we made anonymous.

[thegrammalady]

found out friday that it was an x-employee who called the state on my center. i started laughing all over again at the thought of it. however, as i expected they found nothing wrong, the center passed inspection with fling colors. any problems at my center have nothing to do with cleanliness, but rather administration. while i think the head nurse is a very nice lady and a very good nurse, she should have run screaming in the opposite direction when offered anything to do with administration. i've learned she's totally useless and when i have problems now i go to her boss.

[goofynina]

Glad to hear everything went well with your clinics inspection Grammalady, i would've hated for you to have to relocate (as i did)     I am sure they will all be on their toes now 

[ssticker]

Are Health Dept inspections public records?  I think they are.  If I were you, I'd ask at the Health Dept and get a copy if they are.
[/quote

FIR's (Facility Inspection Reports)

http://www.assndialysisadvocates.org/surveys9_04_to_8_06.htm

[Black]

Are Health Dept inspections public records?  I think they are.  If I were you, I'd ask at the Health Dept and get a copy if they are.

FIR's (Facility Inspection Reports)

http://www.assndialysisadvocates.org/surveys9_04_to_8_06.htm

Thank you!!

Moderators:  Should we start a new thread to show everyone where they can find this important information?

[Rerun]

I'm not sure I'd like someone rooting thru my file - what happened to privacy?

When Tax Payers foot the bill then your book is open and on display.

[bioya]

1. Anyone can call in the state to evaluate your facility. If the complaint is bad enough, they will be there in 28 hours or so.

2. ALL records are able to be reviewed by the state when the inspect your facility. No records are off limits.

3. To whoever said "I hope they don't shut you down cause I drove 45 min after then shut mine down". Well, good! If your old clinic needed to be shut down, I am glad they did. For you and your coo-patients.

4. Make sure you turn in your clinic for everything that goes wrong. Accountability, accountaibility, accountability. Thats the only way you will make your clinic and its staff care about you. THEY NEED TO FEAR THE PATIENTS POWER.  However, having said that, make sure you are correct and not making things up to make things seem worse.

5. Use your renal network to file complaints too. They are tasked with ensuring proper medical treatment as well as being treated as a human.

DO NOT ALLOW THE CLINC TO INTIMIDATE AND ABUSE YOU. YOU HAVE RIGHTS. USE THEM.