I had the recent experience of going to a clinic. I left with 2 prescriptions. I ran out the door, prescriptions in hand, to avoid a parking ticket. When I got home, I noticed the prescriptions were for someone else…not for me. This means that someone else very likely received my prescriptions.

 What are the issues here? Safety and Privacy. Just suppose I wasn’t a health care professional myself and didn’t recognize the error. Just suppose I had taken medications not meant for me. Not to mention HIPAA VIOLATIONS.  Please see http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/

And this all extends to our pet companions as well. I took my dog to the veterinarian this week. Her allergies were acting up. I was given the usual antibiotic and steroid to get this under control. I knew what the medications were. This was discussed with the veterinarian and stated in my bill. However, I noticed that the bottle of medications DID NOT give the name of the medication or the dosage. Danger! Just suppose my dog had a middle of the night emergency. Just suppose I grabbed her medications and ran out the door. Just suppose the emergency veterinarian asked what meds she was on. Just suppose I couldn’t remember at the time. I called my veterinarian, not to complain, but to express my concern. I believe this is a legal violation. You don’t dispense drugs without labeling the name of the medication and dosage. Sure, you could say, it’s just a dog. Oh well. Suppose my 2 year old grandson had gotten a hold of these?

The bottom line, the important lines:

• Please be aware of what medications you are getting; check for your name and the name of the medications, and the dosage. While you are doing that, check the expiration date too. Medications, which are chemicals, can change  their composition over time. And some expire; check the date.
• Please make sure the medical record that is being reviewed, and recorded into, on a paper medical record, or on a computerized record, is indeed yours.
• Please make sure that your privacy is not being violated. When you are called from the waiting room, your first name is all that needs to be used.
• Please keep records, at home, of all of your transactions with health care providers and pharmacies.
• Please extend these reminders to your  family, friends, neighbors, colleagues. and to anyone else that you know is encountering the health care system. Which is everyone.  And don’t forget your pets’ veterinary records. (not long ago I had to have a very old dog euthanized. Never easy. The medical record showed that my younger healthy dog had been euthanized).
•  BE CAREFUL. YOU ARE YOUR BEST ADVOCATE!  AND YOU MAY BE YOUR ONLY ADVOCATE!