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I don’t know if this belongs here but I have to vent somewhere.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield started a site where all your medical information can be accessed. I wasn’t going to sign up but after a couple of e-mails from them I did, and I am glad I did.

In one area, labeled Illnesses/Conditions, the Presbyterian Hospital in Plano shows “Non dependent drug abuse”. I couldn’t believe it. “Non dependent drug abuse”. I do not abuse drugs.

In 2008, I fell while boarding up our windows for Hurricane Ike and shattered my left elbow. After a trip to the emergency room, my wife and I evacuated to my daughter’s house in the colony. Once there I had to go to the emergency room at the Presbyterian Hospital in Plano where they admitted me and did surgery the next day. There was nothing said about drug abuse at that time.

After searching further, I found a claim that I had never seen with a code listed as “Nondependent tobacco use disorder”. Unbelievable. I guess when they asked if I smoke and I answered yes, I was labeled a drug abuser.

Unbelievable, just unbelievable.

Medical records are similar to credit reports, they should be checked periodically for accuracy. Unfortunately, getting to them is another story all together.

Moving to electronic medical records will help facilitate access to them for the patient, his/her medical providers, insurance companies and God only knows who else. Somewhat of a double edged sword in my opinion.

VoiceofReason wrote:After searching further, I found a claim that I had never seen with a code listed as “Nondependent tobacco use disorder”. Unbelievable. I guess when they asked if I smoke and I answered yes, I was labeled a drug abuser.
Unbelievable, just unbelievable.

"Tobacco Use Disorder" Sheesh

I guess you should feel lucky they didn't label you a pyromaniac for setting all of those cigarettes on fire. Do you drink coffee, tea or colas?

WildBill wrote:

VoiceofReason wrote: "Tobacco Use Disorder" Sheesh

Isn't that redundant?

Any day now we'll see MJ and other harder drugs legalized, but tobacco is heading in the other direction. Soon you will have to buy your tobacco from the Mexican cartels. They'll switch to tobacco when the other stuff is legalized. /sarcasm

More on topic....

I am struggling to get over the fact that personal privacy is dead.
Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, security breaches at Visa, Amex, my former employer...
I can get your credit history and criminal background in 10 minutes by filling out a form and sending to a credit reporting agency. I'd be breaking the law, but if I'm a criminal intending to do bad things, would I care?
I have a hard time believing that anything about me remains private today....

So.....

Why is it that putting my medical history online makes me so squeamish?
I don't have anything to be embarrassed about in my medical history (I'm not a drug abuser like VoR ), it's just a privacy thing.
Honestly, I agree that it would help me (and others) make better decisions about managing the cost of medical care....

Years ago I went to a psychologist to be tested for ADD. The Egyptian doc had a very strong accent and I have a hearing loss. It took great effort on my part to communicate with this guy, and he acted very guarded towards me. His manner was somewhat disconcerting; anyway, finding that I did have ADD he prescribed a med similar to Ritalin.

As required by our HMO, I mailed the prescription off and it didnt get filled in time. (This particular prescription is void if it has not been filled within 7 days). So the HMO told me to go back to the doc and get two prescripts, one for 7 days, to be filled at the local pharmacy, and the other for 90 days, to be mailed in. The doc acted like I was trying to pull one over on him & insinuated that I was lying. I twisted off and fired his hide in his waiting room in front of all his patients...seriously, I said, CLOWN YOURE FIRED, & I WANT MY RECORDS RIGHT NOW!

While reading my records later, I found he had wrote that I exhibited extreme anxiety and appeared highly stressed, as I was sitting on the edge my my chair in his office. (I am a kinda laid back and calm) The fool never once considered that I was struggling to hear his mangling of the English language.

I later found out that this doc had gotten into trouble for shady "pill mill" prescriptions. My friends & family suspects that he thought I was an undercover LEO.

When I went to my GP he was shocked that this doc hadnt even gave me a cursory physical exam. This type of med can cause problems. (This drug had too many side affects for my comfort and I quickly tossed it)

Anyway...there are many incompetent people in the medical field from the receptionist on up. Watch em with both eyes.

VoiceofReason wrote:Blue Cross and Blue Shield started a site where all your medical information can be accessed.

Link? So others with BCBS can check themselves, too?

I have done privacy law for about 15 years as part of my practice. I long ago came to the conclusion that there is not privacy. However until recently we still had the illusion.

stroo wrote:I have done privacy law for about 15 years as part of my practice. I long ago came to the conclusion that there is not privacy. However until recently we still had the illusion.

I was getting ready to post that privacy is a thing of the past. You beat me to it.

WildBill wrote:"Tobacco Use Disorder" Sheesh

You must be doing it wrong.

I have no doubt that smoking causes cancer and other nasty illness, but it seems to me that those who would control every aspect of your life have become hysterical in their attempt to force everyone to stop smoking.

I knew a man that developed bladder cancer in his early 60s. His doctor asked him if he smoked. He answered no. He had smoked when he was younger but had quit 20 years ago. The doctor told him that his bladder cancer was caused by smoking. Chalk another one up for the statistics. How did that doctor know that the cancer was not caused by the 5 or 30 X-rays the guy had in his lifetime?

If I developed cancer, I know it would be listed as caused by smoking, never mind the facts I have worked at a uranium mill that produced yellow cake, and the Cyclotron Institute at A&M, both for short periods of time.

Who, where and when was tobacco classified as a drug, instantly making 45 Million people (20% of the population) “drug abusers” and fattening the budgets of the CDC, FDA and maybe the DEA?

"Non dependent drug abuse", Unbelievable.

tornado wrote:

VoiceofReason wrote:Blue Cross and Blue Shield started a site where all your medical information can be accessed.

Link? So others with BCBS can check themselves, too?

x2

For those that are curious, do a Google search using online medical records.