Medical Results mailed????

megstoo · December 2011

I have a dumb question and not really sure where to look online so I'm helping you guys can help me out.

I've been going to my general doctor for the past 4 years and never really had blood work until 3 weeks ago. DH went for a physical about 3 months and they mailed him his blood test results (trigliceroids, cholesteral etc.) which I found REALLY weird. It was on a blue postcard that was stappled once on the bottom.

Fast forward to 3 weeks ago. I went for blood work because I was having problems with losing weight and my trainer suggested I go for a complete checkup including blood work .... I went the day before Thanksgiving and they drew blood. I didn't get the results and figured all was ok. Last week Wednesday I got a call from receptionist saying all reusults are back but something funny with my liver functions and they want to retest... ok I go back and have more blood taken and I'm told "we'll mail you the results".... I still haven't gotten anything from the origional blood work 3 weeks ago.

Isn't this against the laws or something? What if something is seriously wrong and they MAIL the results for the world to see or I don't get the postcard?

For the record I'm NOT happy with this practice and will most likely leave but can't they get in serious trouble? Who would I report this too? I thought part of blood tests/doctors etc was confidentiality?

I_love_cupcakes · December 2011

Not sure what the protocol is on that, but isn't messing with someone else's mail also against the law? So I'm guessing the assumption is that the mail SHOULD be secure, and you'd have to press charges against the person who opened your results?

cheekywife · December 2011

i've had results mailed but in a sealed envelope. and only "you don't have whatever we were testing you for" results, so ever anything to worry about. but on a postcard?! WTF?!?!?!

i am pretty sure that goes against doctor-patient confidentiality . . .

hollace · December 2011

It's not illegal to mail someone part of their medical records. It's also not "for the world to see" as tampering with mail is a federal offense. Now, I would say that not having them in a sealed envelope is probably a little unorthodox, but again, not illegal. My initial thought is that they probably did not mail your original results to you since one of your lab results was outside the normal limits and they wanted to call you and rerun, again, completely okay. I would think if the results came back abnormal again you will hear from the office and can most likely expect them to not mail you the results. Doctor's offices tend to have the "no news is good news" rule of thumb and will only call if something is amiss. If you're not happy with the practice you certainly have the right to leave but they are not violating any patient rights. I have had lab results mailed to me several times. If the method of the fold and staple mailing weirds you out I think it's completely okay to tell them as such and ask if they could please put it in an envelope. That's not to say they will, they may tell you what their office policy is and simply state that that is how they do things, but it never hurts to ask.

megstoo · December 2011

I completely understand if someone else opens the postcard then yes it's a postal offense but I was curious if this was a HIPPA violation.

This post card isn't sealed and only has 1 staple so really anyone could read it. I still find it a little weird. When I called just now for the results the receptionist said we sent the blue post card but you need to be seen by a specialist and all of the numbers are on the post card.

maryandkirk0909 · December 2011

PPs are right- you have a presumption of privacy in your mail. It is your dr's choice.

My Dr in MO always mailed lab results. They did it in a privacy envelope though.

My Drs here all have a call in system through INOVA's labs to check your results with your SSN. I'm a fan of this as long as the system works (which it wasn't once and I had to call some random operator and give them my SSN which I was not a fan of).

hollace · December 2011

megstoo:
I completely understand if someone else opens the postcard then yes it's a postal offense but I was curious if this was a HIPPA violation.

This post card isn't sealed and only has 1 staple so really anyone could read it. I still find it a little weird. When I called just now for the results the receptionist said we sent the blue post card but you need to be seen by a specialist and all of the numbers are on the post card.

It's still not a HIPPA violation. Again, it may not be what you consider ideal, but it is closed via stapling. HIPPA has been around long enough that all providers understand what's expected of them. Now I think it's weird they didn't call you back to tell you that you need to seek further medical attention and give you numbers over the phone but that's not illegal either, just not ideal.

WinesNotWhines · December 2011

I've gotten lab results mailed to me plenty of times, but it's usually in a sealed envelope. Usually they mail me the results if they're normal, but if something is abnormal, they call me so they can talk to me about it. Nothing your doctor did sounds strange to me.

If you don't want your results mailed to you, they can probably put a note in your file about it.

the domesticated newlywed · December 2011

we don't mail results -- the doctors are very very strict about that - we won't fax them -- kinda for this reason -- what if someone else opens your mail or the envelope tears -- not really a HIPPA thing just a personal privacy thing.

jenn248 · December 2011

I'm a little confused - how do you get your test results if they're not mailed to you? Obviously I would expect a call if there are abnormal results, but for something normal like a physical or blood tests that are several pages long, do you expect the doctor to read it to you over the phone or do you go in to the doctor's office in person to pick up the paperwork? I'm not trying to be snarky, it just never occurred to me that your doctor or lab wouldn't mail you the results (although a stapled postcard in OP's case does seem a little lax).

the domesticated newlywed · December 2011

jenn248:
I'm a little confused - how do you get your test results if they're not mailed to you? Obviously I would expect a call if there are abnormal results, but for something normal like a physical or blood tests that are several pages long, do you expect the doctor to read it to you over the phone or do you go in to the doctor's office in person to pick up the paperwork? I'm not trying to be snarky, it just never occurred to me that your doctor or lab wouldn't mail you the results (although a stapled postcard in OP's case does seem a little lax).

we call every.single.patient - normal or abnormal

belizeitornot · December 2011

my pcp has a lab line. you get a number to call in to and listen to a message the doctor has left you about your results. either that or they call you. i don't recall them mailing anything.

my ob's office does mail i think. i seem to recall in the past the results from my pap were mailed on a folded postcard that was stapled.... though my most recent one was sealed in an envelope (it was actually a letter from the doc). not sure if that is typical now or because i was in for my 6 week postpartum visit when they did it.

Medical Results mailed????

Re: Medical Results mailed????

Choose Another Board

Search Boards