Chart Snooping
One of the disadvantages of working for a large HMO is that the health insurance provided is for the same huge HMO. I miss my family doctor and although I really can't complain about the care I've received from the HMO, it's just not the same. I really liked my family doctor.
One advantage to the present arrangement is that I can bring up my chart on the computer. It violates all kinds of rules to do this, but I don't see the harm. I'm a nurse; I understand what I see and if it concerns my health, I should be allowed to know what is going on, not just what someone chooses to tell me. My coworkers look at their charts too. Could you resist the temptation to see what labels doctors have attached to you?
Anyway, I had a routine physical and some of my lab results were e-mailed to me before I got home. That was pretty cool. My family doctor could never have done that.
I was unhappy with my cholesterol level. It was 200. Considering that I already practically live on nuts and berries, there isn't much else I can do, short of medication, to bring it down. The results didn't give a complete breakdown, so the next time I went to work, I pulled up my chart on the computer. The official lab results showed that my cholesterol was a very respectable 179. The other things I care about such as HDL, triglycerides and ratio, which were left off of my e-mail, were perfect.
It's nice that they e-mail lab results, but what is the point if the results are wrong and incomplete? I'm glad that I'm able to be pro-active in my health care, even if it means snooping in my chart, but what about other people?
Do you belong to an HMO and if so, what do you think about it?
Note: I tried to spell-check this, but once it got to a word it didn't know, it wouldn't let me continue. So, nothing after HDL was checked. This new Blogger is so annoying.
Written by Melissa on 10:43 AM
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Melissa blogging from sunny Santa Clarita, Southern California, United States.
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8 Comments:
I have had it both ways, and it seems to me the major difference is the tremendous pressure the HMO doctors seem to be to get patients in and out the door as soon as possible. I once saw a skin doctor for less than ten seconds. He started writing a prescription the second he walked in the door, handed it to me, said a sentence or two, and walked out. Surprisingly, though, the treatment was correct.
We have a choice, so I've stayed with my family doctor for many years. Group Health is the main HMO in the area. It's often referred to as "Group Death", but I don't know if it's justified or not.
My cholesterol tends toward the higher side (I'd be thrilled with 200), but the HDL and ratio are always "excellent" as the doctor says.
Gary, it is impressive that the doctor knew what to do for you before he even got all of the way in the room. HMO doctors are fast.
Alan, the ratio and a high HDL are more important than the total cholesterol number. You are entitled to feel thrilled with what you have.
I recently got to view charts, too. :) I know it was probably against all the rules, but I kept reverting back to, "He signed a paper saying it was ok to supply information to his spouse." :)
Rules are made to be broken. :)
Hmmm, i think we use different terminology here. Your HMO must be equivelent to our private hospital/medical insurance providers. If thats the case then yes, i belong to one. There have been mistakes made, especially with regards to boob screening...masses not detected etc. However overall, most specialists etc are pretty reliable.
Your cholesterol figures are also different to ours. Obviously the HDL and LDL meanings etc are the same, but we go by small numbers. Mine is 4, or was 4 i need to have it done again, 5 is considered normal...anything above dr's will ask you to alter your diet and come back in a month for retesting. Usually 6.5 and they put you on meds.
"Rules are made to be broken."
My favorite rule! :)
Michelle, it sounds like you may be using ratios to determine cholesteral risk. Mine is 2 point something. Sorry, didn't mean to brag.
Dave, I don't really get people who are totally by the book. I consider the reason behind the rule and then decide if the rule is valid under the circumstances. If it's not, I break it. It sounds like you do the same.
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