Psychiatric History/Records and Residency

[studocplsignore]

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Hey everyone,

I'd like to see a psychiatrist (saw one a few years ago, didn't really go anywhere), but I'm hesitant because I feel like if I have an appointment or if I'm prescribed medication, it'll show up on a record somewhere that my medical school/future residency/employers might have access to.

Does anyone know if this is actually the case, or am I just paranoid? Thanks!

 

[ksmi117]

You're just paranoid. Major HIPAA violations would have to take place for a doctor's visit to show up on a record that medical school admissions/residency program directors would have access to.

Edit: apparently licensing boards may ask your psych history and you'd be obligated to inform them of any diagnoses.

 

[EMhopeful69]

You're just paranoid. Major HIPAA violations would have to take place for a doctor's visit to show up on a record that medical school admissions/residency program directors would have access to.

How do you have 20k posts and not know that everything you just said is straight up wrong. Completely goes along with my belief that the more time you spend on SDN, the less knowledgeable you are. Anyway...

It's TOTALLY AND UTTERLY TRUE that becoming board certified in your chosen specialty requires that you sign over your medical records (including psychiatric records) over to the board certifying you. This is common knowledge and it's really not a big deal if all you have is garden variety MDD or GAD. Even if you're on some SSRI (look at how many residents and doctors claim to be depressed) nobody is really going to fault you for it.

However, I'm with you OP - I'd never let any licensing board or colleague know that I had a mental health issue (don't have one.. currently. Though practicing medicine may give me one!). It's such a shame that our profession has nearly zero tolerance for those that are weak, mentally ill, or in anyway disabled. Yet we're expected to be nothing but empathetic to those outside of medicine with the same issues. Hilarious.

For this reason, many doctors see private psychiatrists outside of their networks and pay purely cash. That way there's no paper trail if you decide you really want to keep it all a secret.

 

[dyspareunia]

How do you have 20k posts and not know that everything you just said is straight up wrong. Completely goes along with my belief that the more time you spend on SDN, the less knowledgeable you are. Anyway...

It's TOTALLY AND UTTERLY TRUE that becoming board certified in your chosen specialty requires that you sign over your medical records (including psychiatric records) over to the board certifying you. This is common knowledge and it's really not a big deal if all you have is garden variety MDD or GAD. Even if you're on some SSRI (look at how many residents and doctors claim to be depressed) nobody is really going to fault you for it.

However, I'm with you OP - I'd never let any licensing board or colleague know that I had a mental health issue (don't have one.. currently. Though practicing medicine may give me one!). It's such a shame that our profession has nearly zero tolerance for those that are weak, mentally ill, or in anyway disabled. Yet we're expected to be nothing but empathetic to those outside of medicine with the same issues. Hilarious.

For this reason, many doctors see private psychiatrists outside of their networks and pay purely cash. That way there's no paper trail if you decide you really want to keep it all a secret.

Source?

 

[Smurfette]

How do you have 20k posts and not know that everything you just said is straight up wrong. Completely goes along with my belief that the more time you spend on SDN, the less knowledgeable you are. Anyway...

It's TOTALLY AND UTTERLY TRUE that becoming board certified in your chosen specialty requires that you sign over your medical records (including psychiatric records) over to the board certifying you. This is common knowledge and it's really not a big deal if all you have is garden variety MDD or GAD. Even if you're on some SSRI (look at how many residents and doctors claim to be depressed) nobody is really going to fault you for it.

However, I'm with you OP - I'd never let any licensing board or colleague know that I had a mental health issue (don't have one.. currently. Though practicing medicine may give me one!). It's such a shame that our profession has nearly zero tolerance for those that are weak, mentally ill, or in anyway disabled. Yet we're expected to be nothing but empathetic to those outside of medicine with the same issues. Hilarious.

For this reason, many doctors see private psychiatrists outside of their networks and pay purely cash. That way there's no paper trail if you decide you really want to keep it all a secret.

There are a lot of different applications involved during a medical career. However, not all of these are equal as far as personal health info.

It is FALSE that becoming board certified requires you to sign over your medical records. I'm BC and didn't have to submit medical records. I don't even think the application asked any health questions.

Also, ksmi is not incorrect, in that medical schools and residency PDs do not get direct access to your personal medical records.

Licensing boards, on the other hand, vary in the amount of info they want regarding health/psych history. In this case, it depends on the state and your history as to what is supposed to be reported on the application. There are several old threads discussing this topic on SDN that you can look through.

 

[ksmi117]

I apologize if I wasn't clear in my post. I only meant medical schools and residencies, since that's all I know about. Since the title of the thread is asking about residency, I didn't even consider licensing boards. I admittedly know nothing about applying for a medical license and whether they'd have access to your medical records. I guess I'll go look through those old threads at some point too.

 

[DermViser]

You're just paranoid. Major HIPAA violations would have to take place for a doctor's visit to show up on a record that medical school admissions/residency program directors would have access to.

Wow, talk about giving completely wrong info.

 

[DermViser]

I apologize if I wasn't clear in my post. I only meant medical schools and residencies, since that's all I know about. Since the title of the thread is asking about residency, I didn't even consider licensing boards. I admittedly know nothing about applying for a medical license and whether they'd have access to your medical records. I guess I'll go look through those old threads at some point too.

How can you not know this? In order to even start residency, you HAVE to have a medical license. You can't just walk in and start rounding and writing orders.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Agree with Smurfette.

Licensing and board certification are two different things. The former may very well request medical information. Applications for board certification exams require a license but generally do not ask for medical information, AFAIK. Smurfette and I came from the same background so it's definitely not an issue with our board.

Finally, hospital credentialing, like licensing, may ask for health records.

 

[ksmi117]

How can you not know this? In order to even start residency, you HAVE to have a medical license. You can't just walk in and start rounding and writing orders.

Lapse in thinking. Again, I apologize. I'm glad that I was corrected and additional considerations brought to light because my advice was obviously wrong.

 

[Winged Scapula]

We all fall short sometimes and give inaccurate responses.

 

[Etorphine]

Now I'm confused. Is this similar to tax forms in that we are supposed to keep copies of our normal medical records for medical licensing/hospital privileges later (never had a psych history, but just regular healthcare). If so, how far back/how long

 

[Smurfette]

Now I'm confused. Is this similar to tax forms in that we are supposed to keep copies of our normal medical records for medical licensing/hospital privileges later (never had a psych history, but just regular healthcare). If so, how far back/how long

No. Nothing like that.

You need to read the licensing or privilege application forms closely and provide whatever info is requested. It varies quite a bit from state to state and institution to institution. I personally have never had to submit my medical records for either, but I have been required to have a physician sign a form stating I had no conditions preventing me from doing my job (no additional info required beyond this statement and no diagnosis needed to be listed if it did not affect ability to do my job). However, if I had a psych history, I would have been required to submit more info to state boards. This is variable, but I believe in one state the license app wanted the name of the psych dx and diagnosing/treating provider (if dx raised flags, more info would be requested and they'd contact you) and the other wanted more detailed info than that.