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Massachusetts has a universal health care plan and there simply arent enough..
Doctors to handle all the new patients.
So there are "Group visits" where 4-5 people are seen at a time..
Discussing their issue's,etc what about medical privacy?
Will this become more common if the Healthcare plan passes?
That is insane. I refuse to see "husband/wife" teams in the same room as patients. The lawyers would have a field day.
That is insane. I refuse to see "husband/wife" teams in the same room as patients. The lawyers would have a field day.
Many patients who are husband and wife request to be seen together. As long as they have signed HIPAA authorizations granting the spouse access to their medical information, there is no problem. If the one of the patients requests a private visit with the doctor, during that visit, the other patient is escorted to another room.
That is insane. I refuse to see "husband/wife" teams in the same room as patients. The lawyers would have a field day.
It's bad medicine, no doubt, as the doctors indicated in their responses. Lawyers seemingly won't be needed as patients are required to waive their HIPPA right to patient confidentiality, releasing the doctor(s) and/or the medical practice from any responsibility for maintaining privacy and confidentiality in the group setting.
What will be interesting is what happens when another 'group doctor visit' group member publicly discloses information on someone else's medical history or medical condition. I could see that causing a lot of problems.
It's bad medicine, no doubt, as the doctors indicated in their responses. Lawyers seemingly won't be needed as patients are required to waive their HIPPA right to patient confidentiality, releasing the doctor(s) and/or the medical practice from any responsibility for maintaining privacy and confidentiality in the group setting.
What will be interesting is what happens when another 'group doctor visit' group member publicly discloses information on someone else's medical history or medical condition. I could see that causing a lot of problems.
That is a great point. I can say that despite people being married, there are things they tell me that they do not want thier spouse to hear. You simply cannot see two patients in the same room. I had agreed to see husband/wife teams in the past and can tell you that it leads to problems, in that one person tends to get all the time and the other is denied thier proper attention. I have even told husband/wife teams that I will charge them just for one visit, but insist that they be in separate rooms.
That is a great point. I can say that despite people being married, there are things they tell me that they do not want thier spouse to hear. You simply cannot see two patients in the same room. I had agreed to see husband/wife teams in the past and can tell you that it leads to problems, in that one person tends to get all the time and the other is denied thier proper attention. I have even told husband/wife teams that I will charge them just for one visit, but insist that they be in separate rooms.
I agree that it is problematic because one spouse tends to dominate the entire visit.
I agree that it is problematic because one spouse tends to dominate the entire visit.
Yes, that really does occur. One patient will nearly sit there, mute, while the other occupies the time of two visits. It is very unfair to the less dominant member of the relationship and compromises thier healthcare.
And you're both just mentioning the competition for attention between two people who know each other well. Imagine having to compete with 8 random strangers (the group visit described in the article had 9 patients) for adequate time and attention from one doctor.
Libertarian! If your picks are allowed to agree or disagree to go with you, that is.
Last edited by ergohead; 10-31-2009 at 02:53 AM..
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