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Some also want to see how you may cope with a health problem,possible dx or treatments. I know when I was looking at getting an scs implant in my spine you even had to go for a psych evaluation. I also wonder with some chronic conditions if they can't figure out a dx if some doctors like to suggest it being a mental issue and for some it may not and some I guess it may. I cant say for sure but I don't think your insurance would find out from the forms only if you were to see a psych etc and use your health insurance. I dont think they can tell your employer.
All they have to ask is what drugs you are taking. Period.
I agree, as doctors they should know what those "medicines" are for. I think if I were asked the same question as OP from a doctor I would just say NO.
Can they notify my employer? My last therapist told me it isn't a good idea to use health insurance for mental health, something about they can deny you in the future or something like that
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggie02
My concern is that your therapist just didn't want to deal with the hassle of billing insurance. Different companies pay at different rates.
A doctor cannot notify your employer, as that would be a breech of confidentiality.
Not a good idea to use health insurance for mental health??!! What is that about?
As mentioned just to get an overall picture, but if you are concerned about privacy, which you should be, then just mention it verbally and ask them not to put it in your chart unless necessary.
Asking what medicines you are taking NOW, is not the same as knowing what you may be taking in the future because of your mental status.
A good doctor needs to know what the problems may be. It's a surprise to a lot of patients to find out that certain medications can make other physical problems worse.
Going to see a kidney doctor today, on the form one of the questions is if I have a psychiatric problem which I interpret as a mental disorder, which I do. I was professionally diagnosed by a psychologist with a dissociative disorder, dissociative disorder not otherwise specified is the specific name for my mental disorder, it just means that I didn't meet the diagnosis for Depersonalization disorder since I have more symptoms, but why would a kidney doctor want to know this? What can they do with this information? Are they going to contact my health insurance about it? I never used or plan to use my health insurance for mental health. Can they notify my employer? I don't get it. Should I even put that on the form? My last therapist told me it isn't a good idea to use health insurance for mental health, something about they can deny you in the future or something like that
Doctors ask all these questions to cover themselves from future malpractice litigation. Nothing is worse than being on a witness stand and having someone ask you a question about a patient and you have no knowledge of the condition. It makes you look inept and incompetent. So they try to find out as much as possible about you.
If you feel that it does not impact your kidney health at all, I would not mention it. But that is just me.
Asking what medicines you are taking NOW, is not the same as knowing what you may be taking in the future because of your mental status.
A good doctor needs to know what the problems may be. It's a surprise to a lot of patients to find out that certain medications can make other physical problems worse.
It's downright silly for a doctor to worry about what a patient MIGHT take in the future. The prescribing doctor bases new prescriptions on what is currently being taken. A future prescribing doctor bases new prescriptions on what is currently taken. Meaning whatever the first physician prescribes will be taken into consideration by a different doctor in the future IF new medication is added.
Anyone who cares about their health should be getting their prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy so the pharmacist can alert them to any potential complications. The pharmacist is truly the authority on this more than any doctor because it's the pharmacist's specialty. Build a relationship with your pharmacist and consider him/her your second line of defense.
My experience has been---they seldom even bother to look at the drugs a patient takes. I take 7 RX on a routine basis, and 3 on a contigency basis. I fill out all the forms completely, and you can tell from the way they talk they've never even looked at it! Allergies are another on their "ignore" list. I AM allergic to penicillian. Really, I am! I always list it, but they usually just ignore it. I had a nurse almost inject me with Augmenten via IV in an ER, I stopped her and asked what is that drug? she acted like I was some silly kid being out of line, and said "its something the doctor wants you to have". I said WHAT IS IT? turned out it was Augmentin, a form of penicillian. She still argued, well if doctor prescribed it, it must be ok. I think not!
The reason they ask about mental health issues is to CTA. Like another poster said, they just need to know what drugs, not why. they seldom bother to pay attention to any of the information you give them, anyhow!
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Allergies are another on their "ignore" list. I AM allergic to penicillian. Really, I am! I always list it, but they usually just ignore it. I had a nurse almost inject me with Augmenten via IV in an ER, I stopped her and asked what is that drug? she acted like I was some silly kid being out of line, and said "its something the doctor wants you to have". I said WHAT IS IT? turned out it was Augmentin, a form of penicillian. She still argued, well if doctor prescribed it, it must be ok. I think not!
