Medical Records

[Crankinit]

Hey, I was wondering if someone could shed some light for me on exactly how the medical records system works, particularly as it pertains to drug use. Eg, if I disclose my drug use to a particular doctor, can he then put that on a database of sorts? Does it go on my medicare record or something similar? Or is it an internal database only accessable within the particular hospital/medical center I visit?

I'm just a little confused about the whole thing.

Cheers

 

[MrIbis]

no the only statewide record is the docshoppers register.

All other dealings between a GP and yourself, unless you say you're planning on harming yourself or someone else, are strictly confidential.

If your doctor breaches the privacy act, sue him.

 

[Crankinit]

So there's no way it could be dug up at a later date?

I'm concerned because I have vague thoughts of working in the medical field later on, and this seems like the kind of thing that come back to haunt me in the future.

 

[AfterGlow]

My GP takes notes on his computer and he records pretty much everything I tell him pertaining to my health. I know this because I can view my medical records that are maintained in a database by the medical clinic that my doctor is a member of.

Doctors can't remember their patients medical history from memory. They rely on notes and they are now more often maintained in electronic rather than paper form. Of course, those records are supposed to be private and only viewable by you and your medical providers. But I'll bet that the insurance provider also has access to them.

This may not be the case with every doctor and every medical facility, but you would probably have to ask your doctor to NOT make any notes in your medical records pertaining to illicit drug use. It is important for them to know what drugs you are taking if you expect them to make informed medical recommendations on your health. So if makes sense for them to make notes on that if you tell them.

 

[Crankinit]

But I'll bet that the insurance provider also has access to them.

Which is kind of where I'm concerned. I'm 'really' not comfortable with being in some database somewhere with the label 'drug user' next to my name, for so many reasons.

I have a few family members who work in the medical field so I know just how accessable these supposedly 'private' records really are within any one facility. What I'm trying to figure out is to what extent those records are accessable outside of that particular medical facility.

If worst comes to worst the option is always there to pay with cash and not give any insurance details, I suppose.

 

[drug_mentor]

What is this "docshoppers register"? Are you informed if you are put on it!? I am pretty concerned that a doc I asked for valium a while back would of put me on there if he could, judging by his reaction when I asked him for it. I think it is really unfair to have something like that, because how can they prove it isn't a legitimate request and it would make it much harder for those people to get meds even if they really needed them.

 

[thestudent14]

It was my understanding that it should be easily accessable.

@Cranknit
If your parents have no idea about your drug habits, you could ask them if they have access to anyones records apart from their own patients, I very doubt they would.

If you don't feel comfortable asking your parents you can ask your GP these same questions, I don't see how a doctor would be allowed to on any level to make these records accessabile to anyone that you haven't permitted access.

It's called Patient/Doctor confidentiallity for a reason. Thats why their records are kept secret because it is in their best interests to keep it that way (because otherwise they could lose their jobs) and the patients best interest (in harm reduction, both from illness and privacy)

I would ask your gp this question, but I'd be suprised if anyone had access to the files except for themself. And plz update this thread, it's definately something I'd like to have a definitive answer on =)


Party safe

 

[Crankinit]

What I'm concerned about is having some kind of long term record that could cause me problems in the future, either medically (ie. can't get meds I need prescribed because they're abuseable and I'm listed somewhere as a 'drug user' or somesuch) or professionally (if I end up going into that field).

If it's restricted to a particular practice, that's not an issue. If it, as someone mentioned, ends up on my insurance record or something similar, that absolutely is an issue, for a million reasons which I'm sure don't need listing.

 

[kingpin007]

admitting drug use to doctor is recorded but that info only used if your applying for a government job or working as a doctor ..

I admitted drug use to centrelink and it has followed me 10 years later .. applying for work at customs etc ....

admitting drug use will ensure that government jobs you apply for in the future you will be drug tested etc.

non government jobs you be ok ...

 

[drug_mentor]

Fuck, that sucks fair balls man! I wouldn't of thought the Government could view my medical records if I applied for jobs with them, certainly not relating to drug use.

 

[footscrazy]

admitting drug use to doctor is recorded but that info only used if your applying for a government job or working as a doctor ..

I admitted drug use to centrelink and it has followed me 10 years later .. applying for work at customs etc ....

admitting drug use will ensure that government jobs you apply for in the future you will be drug tested etc.

non government jobs you be ok ...

I so hope this isn't true. I've been appyling for government jobs and am fairly far along in the process, it's looking good so far. If my medical records stop me from getting this I will be absolutely devastated. I would have 2 stints in detox on my records and well as pharmacotherapy. I've been in a shit place lately and these jobs are really the only light at the end of the tunnel for me, if this stops me from getting it I really don't know what I'll do.
I do know that out of 1500 applicants for 60 places I'm down to the last 200 and have an interview, would that mean they've probably already checked the records and maybe it's all ok..?
This has really stressed me out

 

[nabollocks]

Don't worry footscrazy, the government also has a policy about discrimination.

As long as you are not trying to get a job where you will be dealing with drugs, you will be fine.

If you found out that they did discriminate based on your medical files... sue them!

Seriously, drug offences are nothing unless you have a criminal record.

 

[Busty St Clare]

For the most part medical records are for an individual Doctor only and are not generally shared between different practices... yet. If you move to a different surgery you have to apply for a copy and this is then sent over to your new doctor but apart from that the digital records are not linked to a central data base. They are actually a legal requirement for the Doctor and are not the patients property as such. That is likely to change in the next few years however. Currently your Medicare card is fairly basic and you are only a number in the system. I'd be surprised if they can't track things such as the type of services you have claimed and the prescriptions you have had filled simply by checking your medicare number. There is a move to turn this card into a electric medical file that would allow doctors to check lab results, blood type, previous treatment by simply swiping your card. This would obviously make a doctors job a hell of a lot easier (most patients don't even know the name of their meds let alone what illnesses they had in the past), however it will make Dr shopping etc a lot easier to detect.

In the past year a new legislation was passed that made it compulsory for doctors to alert authorities if another colleague disclosers drug use or any other medical condition that they deem a risk to the public. The treating doctor can be struck off for not doing this. Essentially it means there is not such thing as patient confidentiality between healthcare workers that exists for Joe Public. Although noble in theory you can see that fewer health workers are going to voluntarily seek treatment for a lot of conditions such as depression, mental illness or drug dependency for fear that they will be handed over to their respected registration board. How successful this will be I am yet to be convinced but I suggest if you do get into your chosen field that you keep you mouth shut unfortunately.

Having said all this I wouldn't worry too much about them checking your past medical history unless it involved a criminal record. You would be horrified at the number of serious drug abusing doctors are still working out there after being discovered. Most have a restricted access to medications and have to piss in a cup perhaps once a month but still hold a licence. They have fuck all chance of promotion though.

 

[nabollocks]

Yeah, I have written on BL before about the Medicare doctor shopping database... It is basically an opt in database for doctors worried about their patients.

If you consider drugs like opiates, barbiturates, and benzodiazapines a problem in combination then you should not find it out of the question that your doctor would like to know if you are getting these prescribed by any other doctor before giving you a script that could possibly end your life.

That said, not many doctors use the database because of the time that it takes to set up an account, and then update it.

Most doctors will just send you to a specialist if they feel that you are asking to much of them.