A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Anyone accused of a HIPAA violation and let go? - Just curious

Posted: Jun 22, 2010

I don't know anyone personally - but there was a poster

[ In Reply To ..]
a week or so ago who said she had been let go because they claimed she did or did not do something to the dictator name and/or worktype, and that it was a critical HIPAA violation. Boom...gone!

Someone on my account got canned - neglected to double check demographics

[ In Reply To ..]
and it turned out the dictator had punched in the wrong patient number, so the wrong name came up, and even though he dictated the correct name, the MT didn't catch the error, or flag it with a question, so when the job was uploaded, the report went into the wrong patient's record at the client's end, and on their system it is VERY difficult to reverse that, once it happens. It was declared a HIPAA violation and the MT was fired.

Let this be a lesson to us all... always, ALWAYS double-check the demos!

That is so very WRONG. It was the doc's goof - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
originally, and he/she sent the incorrect info outside the hospital with his/her ID# affixed to it, indicating approvalof what was entered. Since when is it the duty of lesser-paid healthcare workers (us) to take the rap for the mistakes MDs make, medical or administrative? I mean, if the doc had manually signed an order sheet and inserted it into the wrong chart at the nurses station, then some other doc looked at it without reading the name and administered a wrong med based on it, who would be taking the HIPAA rap for that?

When we are preparing something for a doc's signature, electronic or manual, the signer bears the ultimate responsibility for the entire document's
accuracy, demographics included. I hope any MT/MEs discharged for these violations fight it, and fight it hard.
Or at least call "60 Minutes" and bring it to national attention.

BTW, what happens if an offshore MT/ME makes the same mistake?

but it IS our job - MT North

[ In Reply To ..]
and it always has been. I have been doing this for 25 years and it is expected that you flag errors. It has nothing to do with who gets paid more, it is about expertise - the doctor's is to treat patients, mine is to produce as close to perfect of a record as I can, which not only includes but it really about making sure what is said makes sense and is correct.

Of course the MT should have FLAGGED the error, but - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
if she/he didn't, why should she/he take the HIPAA rap for the dictator who
made the original error and then affixed a signature indicating approval?

I agree that this is not likely to change, but I also think that in the very near future it will be academic anyway. I wonder how it will play out when the formatting is 100% front-end, in platforms such as EPIC and SpeechQ which are currently in use, and never goes through a MT/ME before being uploaded. Who will take the HIPAA rap for unflagged errors then? It's a shame that even one MT/ME has had to take it now.

They both made an error. The doc accidentally - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
typed in or transposed the wrong MRN; however, he did say the patient name which did not correspond with the name in the demos and the MT SHOULD have caught it. That is, like another poster said, part of the job. Don't think I would fire an MT if it was the first time it happened, but it has to be reported as a violation as the wrong info was on the wrong patient's chart--which can in some cases be detrimental to patient care.

And the doctor will just get a pat on the back - and told

[ In Reply To ..]
"that's OK, we know how busy you are."

This isn't a perfect world, and let's face it, - doc will NEVER be the one thrown under the bus

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, the doc made the original error, but the MT should have caught it.

And we all know what they say about "stuff" rolling downhill. Fair? Of course not. Fact of life? Yep.

I dont understand how that's wrong.... - Natalie

[ In Reply To ..]
We have a 5-point verification policy where I work. If the MT doesn't follow it, they get fired, period. So the doctor entered the wrong info, that happens A LOT. It is the MT's responsibility to verify that what is dictated matches what comes up automatically in the patient demos. If it doesn't and the MT can't make heads or tails of what should be there, that report needs to be flagged. I don't see a problem with that or why anyone else would either to be quite honest.

Similar Messages:

Nov 11, 2013

I posted earlier about a HIPAA violation I believe the company I am subcontracting for is committing. I'm considering filing a complaint, but not sure what this would entail. Before I go too far into it, has anyone filed a complaint against an 'employer,' for lack of a better term, as I am a subcontractor & not an employee? This issue is weighing heavily on my mind. I do have proof of emails sent back and forth that are not encrypted or secured in any way containing reports with t ...

Jun 26, 2010

So today I get a letter from BCBS of GA. Whoops, they had a security breech on their website. Someone "may have" gotten acccess to my name, SS #, and credit card info. They made "security changes to prevent it from happening again". They are offering me one free year of "identity protection" under Debix Identity Protection Network (has ANYONE out there every heard of this company?). They want me to leap on to the DIPN website and give them all my information so they can prote ...

May 27, 2010

and paid to have them sent to me. The last 20 pages were someone else's medical record. I called the records dept and told the clerk, and she acted like it was no big deal and could I bring them back? At first, I just wanted the extra 5 bux back that I paid for these (5 bux per 20 pages is what they charge). Then I wondered if someone else got a part of MY medical record? She assured me not. This really sounds like a big fat HIPAA violation and I think th ...

May 26, 2013

So I just took a HIPAA course regarding the "new rules" regarding our liabilities and obligations under the law. I often get dictations by doctors who are obviously working at home with their kids running freely (and loudly) through the room, and perhaps a caretaker's voice now and then. If its a HIPAA violation for ME to have other people listening to dictation, isn't the doctor dictating in the presence of others who obviously have no business hearing that dictation a rep ...

Oct 15, 2014

I think this really should be reported and looked into, as long as we're all supposed to be taking HIPAA so seriously. And, no, it doesn't matter what the violation was, I'm not posting it here for everyone to argue over the dirty details. ...

Jan 10, 2015

instead of my own. I called and told the person (it was the exact person that I had send the records) and he acted like it was no big deal -- he just goes, "oh could you bring that back here today?" Of course I will bring them back, but I think it was funny how he made it seem like there was nothing wrong with the scenario. He probably thought I had no idea about HIPAA. ...

Nov 11, 2009

Anyone experiencing HIPAA violation threats of fines/termination? ...

Jul 18, 2014

that you know you didn't and there is no way to prove it? Sigh ...

Mar 22, 2011

of being management. If you have a complaint, you are accused of being a troll or whatever the current word is. If you give an opinion, you are bashed, and if you give advise, you start a string of hateful posts. I wish you all the best. I am leaving this profession and will never look back. I would rather work at Burger King than deal with the cattiness, the low pay and the stress. I am going to work in registration at a hospital and can't wait to start the n ...

Oct 29, 2009

Hi, I need a quick check on HIPAA rules. With respect to the health care debate, I want to write to my senator, etc., about a situation with a patient I transcribed on. The only info. I intend to give is that the patient was a: Russian immigrant, on welfare and receiving Medicaid benefits--when he should not have. He and his "sponsor(s)" was responsible for his care and living expenses. Further, I transcribed a note in which the doctor said that this patient wanted to re-sched ...

Apr 08, 2010

I received an email too 2 days ago from ccm needing an explanation of why I had a patient's report open when I was not actively transcribing. I know there was a night when I had signed out and I had a window still opened that I did not realize was opened. I had minimized the window in case I needed the document again to refer to. Geesh. sometimes I don't even feel like wasting my time to search old reports. I feel like its constant harrassment lately ...

Dec 22, 2009

I guess its not really something new, but as I was visiting a friend in the hospital yesterday a doc was sitting at the nurse's station just dictating away. I clearly heard patient's name and identifying info and her entire medical history while standing outside the room waiting for nurse's to finish with my friend. ...

Apr 07, 2010

Has anyone else gotten a HIPPA violation for referencing old reports when typing an ESL ? ...

Apr 21, 2010

Hello, One of my friends here at MQ was just put back on 100% QA after one bad audit. Now, due to First Time Right, she will be making 3 cpl less for ALL HER LINES since it all is going to QA - except for that 10% allowance that she has. This is just SO not right!!! How is anyone supposed to live on a pay cut like that? For 8-9 cpl, it's a 30% pay cut! Is this reportable to anyone? (If anyone would care...) What can we do about this - besides quit? ...

Aug 02, 2010

The daughter of a friend of mine works in the clinic that I worked at for 18 years in medical records is known to read charts and then tell others about what she has read. For example, someone who has an STD that she knows, she has told lots of friends about it and I have heard it myself. Does anyone have any idea what happens when you report someone for a violation? I am sure that they take the person's name who is reporting it but can you tell me what else is ...

Feb 04, 2011

My husband went in to have blood tests done for a new blood pressure medication he is on and when he left the house to get an RX filled, the nurse from the doctor's office called to tell him the results of his blood tests. Out of curiosity (testing the HIPAA thing), I asked her if his potassium level was okay and SHE TOLD ME that all his levels were fine except blood sugar was a little high! Not only that, I then asked her what new medication had been prescribed and SHE TOLD ME THAT ALSO! M ...

Nov 23, 2012

I failed to cc a physician they said so I got a 3.0 deduction on a dictation. First one I have ever got. I haven't got an email or anything yet. I just saw it on one of my corrections. I haven't gotten anything from FIESA yet. ...

Jan 03, 2010

Has anyone done the HIPAA training? How was the test? ...

Jan 10, 2010

Could some kindly let me know where the HIPAA test is located in MQCentral. Thanks! ...

Jan 21, 2010

I am trying to get a grasp on understanding HIPAA. Does anyone have any suggestions where I can find "easy-to-understand" HIPAA rules? I have a doct that I type his documents in Word and print them to letterhead for him and then hand-deliver them myself to his office. Is this breaking HIPAA rules? I just need to know what I have to be doing to be HIPAA-compliant and not aware of the facts. Thanks for any input! ...

Jan 28, 2010

if we are to be held responsible for any kind of so-called 'security breach' which can be so easily manipulated to either just get ridf US MTs or at least make life a iving ____ for those of us left in these jobs (for example, if your reports are not 100% perfect - because 98-100% would no longer make sense because an error is an error and all are a security risk and breach - (this is so ridiculous I almost cannot even write it)); however, an MT can and will be fired for such? Im ...

May 29, 2010

I had to take my 18 year old daughter to the ER the other night because she cut her finger (not seriously thank goodness). Being a medical transcriptionist I was rather surprised, she was not given any type of HIPAA form to sign, was not told anything about HIPAA, I thought everyone had to sign one. I always have received a form when I went to the doctor or the hospital but she signed absolutely nothing. Is this something new or is it a HIPAA violation since she did not sign an ...

Jun 16, 2010

Writing to your congressman and complaining to your companies about HIPPA makes you look like an idiot. ...

Feb 28, 2011

I've searched and searched and can't find an answer. Is there a HIPAA rule that dictates how long voice files, particularly voice recognition files, are supposed to be kept in archive? Thanks for any help or pointing me in the right direction ...

Apr 01, 2011

First of all....isn't any medical report being typed out of our country by a another country that isn't required to follow HIPAA regulations.....well a HIPAA violation? Not to mention a potential homeland security risk! Secondly, is anyone else bothered by being instructed to type the patient's name in the body of a report? According to HIPAA regulations, the patient's name is NOT to be typed in the body of any medical report. We are all violating HIPAA by doing this ...

Jun 13, 2012

So, my ex-husband of 15 years called my and my son's doctor's office and gets all of our medical and billing information (son is 21). Takes those documents and files suit in court against me using the documents he obtained fraudulently to claim that I have lied about the cost of our son's medical bills (he has been ordered three times to to pay 50% of those costs which only amount to about $2,800). Y'all get that? He committed fraud in order to prove that I have committ ...

Aug 29, 2013

Feel the need to address certain posts "..and there are no such places as you describe any longer. I have been working for an MTSO that treats their ICs as employees without all the "benefits," but also looking for something else along the way. I have not found ONE...not ONE service that takes true ICs any longer." This is called painting with a very broad brush. How can you claim that as accurate? Saying 'no such places' means you have literally checked into, inquired and e ...

Oct 08, 2013

When a consultant's office calls the referred patient, is that office allowed to say the name of their office? Ex: Got a call from a GI office for my husband. The woman gave her first name and said she needed his medical hx before she could schedule an appointment. I asked what office she was from, and she said she couldn't say because of HIPAA but that it was a referral from his PCP. Is it true that because of HIPAA we can't even know who's ...

Apr 08, 2014

What fines could MTSOs be faced with for HIPAA violations in requiring their employees to use Win XP, which is no longer HIPAA compliant? I wonder if it might be worth an increase in line rate to keep our mouths shut. ;o) ...

Apr 23, 2014

From what I am hearing, if you have an XP computer, you are not HIPAA compliant. It violates regulatory requirements. Then why is MM not supplying us with Windows 7? My XP computer they gave me was freezing up, so they sent me another XP. I asked them why they didn't send me Windows 7 and they said XP was cheaper. So now as of April 8, they are not HIPAA compliant. I would like to know how they get around this,,,,,,having many accounts and still having many employees submitting reports u ...