Follow
Share

I have medical POA for my mother and live out of state.  I live in Ga, she is in NC. She just got admitted to the hospital and I'm trying to find out how she is. I keep getting road blocks telling me she has to be on the phone to verify who I say I am. What are my rights?My brother is faxing over to the charge floor nurse the POA.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

21 Answers

Most
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
I would think that unless she gave consent or you have guardianship that there wouldn't be much you could really do about this one due to the hippa laws, which is patient privacy. If the hospital is refusing to release information, they're right to uphold the law by protecting patient privacy.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
you'd think in this day and age, they could Skype webcam and verify the person that way...or is that too Jetsons?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
and a similar thing happened with my mom; she also fell and fractured her shoulder but her ortho - who'd dealt with her before when she'd crushed both her elbow and heel, at different times and several years before when she was younger - was out of town, so they just told her to see him when he got back but by then it was too late; she really should have been transferred to one of the hospitals in the next town and maybe she would have been, except, even between both of them, they didn't have an ortho on call, so they ended up saying they would have had to have transferred her to another one around 2 hrs. away and they didn't really feel she could handle the trip well, like she could handle a fractured shoulder any better? She, too, would have had to have had surgery by the time she did get to see her ortho, except he wouldn't do it, and who knows? considering some things that happened later, but it never was the same. I did end up having a conversation with the hospitals over the situation, however, and maybe I wasn't the only one because they were actually having a meeting between themselves over making sure that between the two of them there would be an ortho on call on at least one, that either they or the patient could be seen at any time; they had not previously collaborated so neither knew how the other's operations were so neither knew there had been being these gaps in coverage - crazy
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
that's somewhat what happened with my dad; his cancer doctor was from out of town and they said he didn't have privileges at his local hospital - anymore - either, so he couldn't see him but yet when "they" finally decided he was bad enough they called him in for "consult" to take some "special" tests, which, though, months later finding out, turned to only be "genetic" testing, which, what other reason would there be for that except for my chances and I wasn't even told until I finally asked for the results of these tests, even though I already knew he had cancer, but even then they didn't turn his care over to him and they didn't take it; they continued to let the local docs handle his care, putting him through so much that led to me finally confronting the whole issue to find out what in the world was going on and that's when it finally began to get straightened out
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Th one thing I don't like is they don't tell u who they r bringing in. They wouldn't release my Mom until she saw a neurologist. I had givn them a list of Moms doctors. They were calling in another doctor. Moms doctor had privleges so I told them he needed to be called since he knew her.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
I had this problem when Mom fell and broke her wrist. She was supposed to go to an ortho right away to get it properly set but the hospital would not tell me, not even the name of the doctor. In spite of having the DPOA and medical surrogate (medical POA) on file in their medical records room from 2 weeks prior. As a result, I did not manage to get an ortho appointment for about 3 days and by then it was too late to set it without surgery. She could not withstand the surgery and has consequently got deformity and loss of function in her wrist. I'm thinking about getting an attorney about it. Apparently they tie themselves up in knots looking to make life difficult for relatives to be sure they are compliant. Damages patients. Stupid, too.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Sorry, forget what I wrote...it doesn't apply.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Go to their medical library department. I'm not sure if there's a small charge to obtain her records...can't recall with my mom.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
4 forms every adult needs to have is the title of an article I wrote awhile back. We faced this problem with my brother recently. He lives out of state on his own and went in for emergency pacemaker. He had no forms in place so thank goodness he was able to talk to us on the phone. If something more had happened we would never had been able to talk to anyone about his situation. I sent him my article and he got right on his forms so next time he is prepared. We all hate to think about bad things happening to us so we put off preparing for when they do. Its so important so very important that we get prepared. I hope to do talks at local senior centers soon on the subject, i feel so strongly about it.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
They should except the medical POA. I have Moms on file with the local hospital and at her doctors. This is the whole reason for it. As soon as you fax it and I'd send a copy of ur license proving its you. Once this is done, I would need a good reason why they won't allow it after that.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Because of HIPPA laws. They have to have the medical/health care proxy on file. This is a federal law. This really should be done before a parent is admitted to the hospital. So these high anxiety situations don't happen. We need to have all necessary paperwork done before a loved one gets sick. You should be faxing the proxy to the hospital. Staff usually only want to talk to one family member who is the proxy holder. Then it is up to that family member to relay info to other family members.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Once they get the Medical POA they should release her information. If they don't see if your mom can sign some kind of waiver or form that gives them permission to discuss with you. My mom's doctor gave us a form so she could give permission for them to talk to me.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
so is your brother not local, either? or why is he faxing the POA and not you? or faxing rather than taking because not sure how much good it will do, anyway, as far as you getting info by phone because they still can't verify it's you on the phone; went through that with my dad but if your brother is local can he not get your mom on the phone or somewhat more to the point can he not do more? did he not take her to the hospital? point being, my son took my dad so they would have dealt with him had he been willing; it was only because he told them I'd have to be the one but if hadn't both called me and given them my info, had I just called it wouldn't have done any good, possibly although his situation was life threatening, although actually in one sense that was worse, but maybe only because I was on my way - are you waiting to see to decide what to do? does your brother not know anything, either? the social worker did get involved in dad's situation and in some ways you don't want that because she then wanted dad placed because then, in her mind, he didn't have any one to look after him, took a lot of doing to get around that that not sure could have ever been done had I not ended up going, but then if that's an issue, might be the best thing; both times he was not able to tell anybody anything, which is part of why I went - now, strangely enough, on an inbetween admission, when I didn't go, he was and was asking about me, and/so they talked to me but I might have been because I'd already been there prior so they knew me by then but he wouldn't and didn't understand anything about a code or anything or signing HIPAA, so you need to try to get something worked out because in another situation things got really bad involving someone who couldn't speak for themselves and the person who had the code left town right when the doctor wasn't trying to reach them and couldn't because he was going through the social worker rather than the nurse - who they'd left their contact info with, but the social worker didn't have it - wasn't until a week of not being able to contact them that I was finally contacted to come - of course I hadn't contacted the social worker either, only the nurse, never expecting that the nurse wouldn't be contacted for info if they needed or trying to contact somebody, so actually maybe that's an idea - just go ahead and contact the social worker directly, just be prepared
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
When my husband was in the hospital last year, I had medical POA, health care surrogate, was the only one on the list to have access to his records by phone, etc.; we knew how covered the hospital wants to be. On the day after his surgery, the doctor saw him very early in the morning, and I missed seeing her. When I asked him what she said, he was still groggy from the surgery, plus he has a problem hearing her. He has a hearing problem anyway, and she is very soft spoken. He is too shy to tell her. So, I called the nurses' station and asked about him, saying that they had all of the papers on file plus I was his wife. They even had him verify on the phone that it was OK to talk with me. Still no results. So, I gathered my folder of legal papers, went to the hospital, and asked for the head nurse. I wasn't rude, but I guess they all knew I was about to ask for something; because, all of their heads turned. Then one came to me. I introduced myself, showed her the papers, and said I would like to see the records from the doctor's earlier evaluation. They all looked at each other as if that had never been done before. She "looked" for the papers, said they must still be on the cart, and told me to visit with my husband while she looked for them. I had barely been in his room five minutes when the doctor called me and gave me a full report. I thanked her and told her I wasn't being difficult; I just wanted to know my husband's condition. I reminded her of his permission on the phone with the nurse and all of the papers, and she assured me that she or the nurse would call or leave a message for me in the future. I then explained about his hearing problem and her soft voice, which she should have known or had on his chart anyway. They get along fine now. I have noticed she tries to talk more loudly and closer to him, and I have no problem with making appointments, scheduling surgery, or getting information.

The organization and the individuals are not necessarily uncooperative or bad. They are overworked and have a lot of responsibility. I can understand why they have to be so careful about giving information to the proper people. I had been through this with my mom. That's why I knew to be over prepared in this case.

I think you should fax copies of your papers, with a cover letter explaining the situation, and explain that you want it confirmed in writing on the cover letter when your mother confirms her permission for you to have her information. Sometimes it is easier for the staff to make instantaneous decisions and go on the next thing on their minds than to take note of something that requires time. Talk to the head nurse, get her name and the name of her supervisor; and, send a copy with your letter and papers to them. A person with confidence who knows the rights of the patient and the patient's family and/or surrogates can get a lot more done than just an out-of-town phone call. Good luck. It makes things much more pleasant when things go smoothly, and I am sure they will.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report
The largest hospital in our locale has a password set up that gets people with these issues. I hope that your mom can get through to them that you are who you say you are. After you are through this round, ask about setting up a password with her local hospital network account. That may help in the future.
Good luck. This is so frustrating for people who are doing the right thing, but without these safeguards in place, anyone can get our medical information. My, how times have changed - for better and worse.
Best wishes,
Carol
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
I have medical and financial POA on my mother. But it doesn't do alot of good. Most places want her on the phone saying you can speak for her. For financial matter they want her signature. Perhaps a neighbor that lives nearby can go in and get a general idea of what is happening and can call you.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
My wife was taken by ambulance to Framingham Union hospital
I called to see what was going on.
The operator told me I had to go to the hospital, they wouldn't even say she was there.
I called back and asked for patient information
PI said she was still in the ER and transferred me to the nursing station.
ER connected me to her nurse who told me everything I asked about
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
HIPPA..that is why..who did she allow to have assigned to the list of contacts? Over the phone is not allowed they do not know who is calling and with all the identity theft going on they need face to face . If you are not on the list your mom has to be the one to change it or add to it.If she is unable to do so, then the social worker will have to intervene.Been there,done that so calm down and ask face to face.Have a great day and good luck
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Some how the hospital needs to verify who she is. That is impossible to do by telephone. To receive information by phone I have had the same sort of thinf occur. I had to have the folks get on the phone to acknowledge that they want information released to me. This exercise has even happened twice during the same phone call. Anybody can call and say they are POA. So, yes, call Mom with a nurse or someone else present to have mom acknowledge it is ok to talk to you. Many hospitals now have a system in place that you need a code number that you would only be able to get from mom or staff if they know who you are.

Not all POA's give you carte blanche access to information. Check yours, does it require Mom's incapacity to become activated? If so, you most likely will need to visit Mom to obtain the necessary information.

Why is mom in the hospital? Have you talked with her? Is she able to tell you herself?
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
They need the Heathcare POA or HIPAA To give you any information. Once they receive the paperwork they will talk openly. My experience is that if the situation is life threatening they will take information.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Pishko, who was with your Mom when she was admitted to the hospital or was she on her own? Usually the admitting staff will ask Mom, or whomever came with her, who is her contact person and can that contact person sign the HIPAA form. Hospitals prefer only one contact name... thus when that person gets info he/she can call the rest of the relatives.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

Recent Questions


Popular Questions


Related Questions

Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter