embarassing question

[stresssed]

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I have an embarassing health problem that I have to get checked out at the student health clinic. I was wondering if our health records are kept confidential from school administrators and can they get access to it since they are doctors themselves? I don't want them getting the wrong impression.



edit:it was nothing related to std's so get your minds out of the gutter.

 

[Trail Boss]

there was a big thread about this last year, some kid went to the ER of his own med school (stupid) after ODing on something (stupider) I think the consensus was: 1. Don't go to your own school if can be helped, and 2. What's in your medical file is you, your doctor, and your insurance adjusters business.

There are no embarassing medical conditions. Only medical conditions.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

I have an embarassing health problem that I have to get checked out at the student health clinic. I was wondering if our health records are kept confidential from school administrators and can they get access to it since they are doctors themselves? I don't want them getting the wrong impression.

Oh come on. There's no way you can tell us this much without telling us precisely what your health problem is... that's just mean

But yeah, your records should absolutely be kept confidential and if they somehow were released to school administrators and the information got passed along to people who have no right over them, then that would be a big, big problem for your school's hospital. In general there's been a lot of sensitivity about confidentiality and HIPAA protocol in recent years and I'm sure you should feel that whatever your problem is, it's between you and your doctor.

 

[stoic]

I have an embarassing health problem that I have to get checked out at the student health clinic. I was wondering if our health records are kept confidential from school administrators and can they get access to it since they are doctors themselves? I don't want them getting the wrong impression.

you have an std.

next? technically your records are confidential, but often the clinic docs are faculty (as you obviously know) and people talk.

if it's a run-of-the-mill embarrassing question, don't sweat it. **** happens - even if you could have prevented it by wearing a condom. if it's super-embarrassing like you got your wang stuck in something or the like, yes, that rumor will spread and be known by all the clinical faculity.

but everyone is really too busy to care if you need valtrex or amoxicillian.

if it's something related to psychological health, it gets more complicated. general anxiety and depression, not a big deal - welcome to med school. drug/etoh addiction... psychotic breakdown, etc are a much bigger deal. do that sort of stuff in the private world and don't charge insurance unless you want to do a lot of extra paperwork when you're trying to get a job.

that's sort of a general view of things that i'd bet holds true at most med schools.

 

[helpfuldoc2b]

you have an std.

next? technically your records are confidential, but often the clinic docs are faculty (as you obviously know) and people talk.

if it's a run-of-the-mill embarrassing question, don't sweat it. **** happens - even if you could have prevented it by wearing a condom. if it's super-embarrassing like you got your wang stuck in something or the like, yes, that rumor will spread and be known by all the clinical faculity.

but everyone is really too busy to care if you need valtrex or amoxicillian.

if it's something related to psychological health, it gets more complicated. general anxiety and depression, not a big deal - welcome to med school. drug/etoh addiction... psychotic breakdown, etc are a much bigger deal. do that sort of stuff in the private world and don't charge insurance unless you want to do a lot of extra paperwork when you're trying to get a job.

that's sort of a general view of things that i'd bet holds true at most med schools.

 

[ThemeV]

I don't know how things are there, but here you can be easily be legally charged if you go checking someones patient records. You have to be patient's doctor, nurse, physiotherapist or some one else who is taking care on that patient.
Employer, school or anyone else can't check your files.

 

[Ombatay]

To the OP: If it IS an STI, from what I understand you shouldn't necessarily be limited to going to your Student Health Clinic based on money. There exist a number of "board of health" clinics or things of that nature which treat STI's either for free or on a sliding pay scale, and basing my assumptions on the usual medical students income, the sliding pay scale would play in your favor. So if you'd rather not risk compromising your confidentiality, go to the local free health clinic that treats STI's (google it). A lot of these places do a good job with anonymity. You may end up having to shell out 50-100$ or so, but not having to learn under to the guy who swabbed you for whatever might be worth the cash.

 

[jdh71]

Oh yeah! Everyone knows when you're a medical student with crabs - everyone! I got the email about your condition this morning - sorry to hear about that . . .

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Which classmate did you catch it from?

 

[HumbleMD]

Which classmate did you catch it from?

This isn't Grey's Anatomy...

 

[DropkickMurphy]

This isn't Grey's Anatomy...

But it does happen *cough* IU satellite campus *cough*

 

[DRJJ1]

Which classmate did you catch it from?

WHAT TEACHER DID YOU GET IT FROM?

 

[Law2Doc]

WHAT TEACHER DID YOU GET IT FROM?

There are other more embarrassing issues than STDs, even from a prof. Could be a lightbulb in a non-intended use.

 

[jdh71]

There are other more embarrassing issues than STDs, even from a prof. Could be a lightbulb in a non-intended use.

LOOK! Sometimes you're just minding your own business, slip, and who knows how these things happen! Don't judge me . . .

 

[DropkickMurphy]

There are other more embarrassing issues than STDs, even from a prof. Could be a lightbulb in a non-intended use.

Now you can tell them what's wrong without saying a word.......

 

[45408]

This isn't Grey's Anatomy...

now I know you don't go to my school. three official relationships, two more that are way under the table, one fast 'n furious that is now over, and his lab partner just hooked up with her after finals.