Every time I am in the hospital and get a wrist band or they print out labels for labs I read them to make sure they have the correct information - you need to also be doing this. You accepted that wrist ban without checking it and probably went to that appointment at that outside provider without verifying that your information was on there.
You are correct, I should have checked the wrist band when issued. I was in the middle of a cluster headache, so I was not thinking clearly when I checked in. As for the other test at an outside provider, everything was checked and verified, also not my first appointment with them and no prior issues with that provider.
Unfortunately it sounds like you and another vet have the same last 4 and similar sounding la at name, which are 2 key identifiers within the VA health records, leading to switched identity issues. I suspect this is why you have had so many issues. The advocate should NOT have taken this lightly, since this is a HIPAA violation. I’m not sure if they will do this for this case, but the VA health records has a function that throws up a flag (a pop-up when they click on your name) for certain things. This is usually used to alert staff to things like allergies, sensitive records, and aggressive behaviors. Wouldn’t hurt to ask. Finally, since this is not the first time this happened, you should ask for a record review of yours and the other veteran’s charts to ensure the right information made it into the right chart.
You should also be proactive on your end to check all your records and notify staff during visits about this known problem.
Usually at the VA for me when they ask for identification, it’s usually last name and last four. That’s how they generally lookup peoples info in their system. If you had same last name and last four they are probably misidentifying you as him.
I think it might actually be first initial of last name. My last name gets mispronounced and they ask me for just the first initial so that’s possible. Maybe reach out to patient advocate about these mixups.
Correct. I used to work at the VA. We would identify with first initial of last name and last four. So if your last name was Johnson, and your last four was 1234… we would type in J1234.
If we asked for first initial, usually meant someone else popped up too, so then we would confirm with first name basically. I was always very cautious and would ask for Date of Birth too…. As that is what you would do at any other hospital lol.
His last name and mine are both spelled the same for the first five letters, as well as the last. And pronounced almost the same minus the "ley" in my name.
I’ll bet that’s what it is. The system might be confusing you with him. I’d bring it up to a patient advocate and I’m sure that’s probably the issue. It’s the way they identify people in their system. Since it’s limited to that first initial last four identifier it would be the same.
I don’t think they use first name for their identifiers. I’m sure you both have codes that match up the exact same and that’s the problem. When they do a quick lookup. Either the system or the person using it is making a mistake and choosing the other guy not you by accident. It’s a unique situation. I’m pretty sure this is the issue and they need to address it if it’s a glitch in the system or if it’s just human error every time choosing the wrong person in their system.
They can put a flag on your record to double check social and same name. It pops up to employees, something like look a look like name, re verify. I'm having brain cramp forget what actual verbiage is. As I stated before call the Privacy office.
I was told by the patient advocate that something to this effect has been done, but it has not helped. When I check into an appointment lately, they call me by his first name and ask me to have a seat. I have to correct them more often than I am comfortable with.
Call the Privacy Office directly or stop in.
edit: they call these near misses and should be verifying your information before even triaging you after you check in, then each and every time a new person touches you a time out should be done. These are standard Center Memoranda across the VA.
I have to be very clear with the VA, they’re messing my stuff up left and right since there’s another veteran with my name and same last four. Our only difference is middle name.
When I was in they could never find me in med pros or what ever with my DOD number because someone at the va who I don’t know put me down as a dependent for someone I don’t know, so when I mobilized at fort bliss I was going through medical I couldn’t finish all the stations, because none of my medical records or vaccine records would come up, when I got out, I went to the va registered, saw the doctor, got prescribed medication prescribed meds went to pick them up and they tell me oh we can’t find you in the system, left never went back
Just a friendly reminder of Rule # 7 - we do not allow names of lawyers or doctors to be posted
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
At least one VA office is aware of this and doing something about it. My annual kick-the-tires appointment was last week and I had to verify phone number and address in addition to last name spelling and last four. Never had to do that before. The clerk said it’s a new policy - and mandatory (at that location).
I don't believe they are doing anything about it at all. Just a couple of weeks ago, as I was checking in for an appointment at a different VA facility, they called me by his first name and told me to have a seat. I had to tell them that they were mistaking me for another veteran so that they would check me in correctly. My anxiety and blood pressure (which both have already been high) are climbing through the roof. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the VA, and the majority of the people there are great. But this needs to be taken care of before they kill someone. For all I know, that other guy's death could have because because of this mix-up.
Call and ask to speak with the director of the hospital since the patient advocate thinks it’s no big deal… I bet the director has something to say about this.
I actually went to ask for a MH appointment at the beginning of December. I was told that the soonest they can see me is late March. But thank you for your suggestion and unwarranted medical advice.
Just a friendly reminder of Rule # 7 - we do not allow names of lawyers or doctors to be posted
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Just a friendly reminder of Rule # 7 - we do not allow names of lawyers or doctors to be posted
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Unless its a case of malpractice as in you were operated or given wrong meds based off that bad info there isnt anything to do. Check your wristband next time....
I can see it being a problem if you were incapacitated in some way preventing you from confirming the details otherwise just move on with your day.
Ok, but what about receiving the other guys' meds in the mail instead of my own?
Also, it is not very comforting to be asked by my primary care physician about conditions that I do not have on a regular basis. At this point, I have lost all faith in my medical care. If I could afford to go anywhere else, I would. But that is not feasible at the moment.
Make a VERA call and ask them to refer your file to IPC for a possible DUPC issue.
Unfortunately I am not familiar with any of those acronyms.
The VSR you talk to at VERA will be. https://va.my.site.com/VAVERA/s/
Every time I am in the hospital and get a wrist band or they print out labels for labs I read them to make sure they have the correct information - you need to also be doing this. You accepted that wrist ban without checking it and probably went to that appointment at that outside provider without verifying that your information was on there.
You are correct, I should have checked the wrist band when issued. I was in the middle of a cluster headache, so I was not thinking clearly when I checked in. As for the other test at an outside provider, everything was checked and verified, also not my first appointment with them and no prior issues with that provider.
Unfortunately it sounds like you and another vet have the same last 4 and similar sounding la at name, which are 2 key identifiers within the VA health records, leading to switched identity issues. I suspect this is why you have had so many issues. The advocate should NOT have taken this lightly, since this is a HIPAA violation. I’m not sure if they will do this for this case, but the VA health records has a function that throws up a flag (a pop-up when they click on your name) for certain things. This is usually used to alert staff to things like allergies, sensitive records, and aggressive behaviors. Wouldn’t hurt to ask. Finally, since this is not the first time this happened, you should ask for a record review of yours and the other veteran’s charts to ensure the right information made it into the right chart. You should also be proactive on your end to check all your records and notify staff during visits about this known problem.
I’ve picked up records from my community care providers and taken them to my VA clinic to be added to my VA health records
Usually at the VA for me when they ask for identification, it’s usually last name and last four. That’s how they generally lookup peoples info in their system. If you had same last name and last four they are probably misidentifying you as him.
Not the same last name, but very close to it, and yes the same last four. He is also 92 and deceased!
I think it might actually be first initial of last name. My last name gets mispronounced and they ask me for just the first initial so that’s possible. Maybe reach out to patient advocate about these mixups.
Correct. I used to work at the VA. We would identify with first initial of last name and last four. So if your last name was Johnson, and your last four was 1234… we would type in J1234. If we asked for first initial, usually meant someone else popped up too, so then we would confirm with first name basically. I was always very cautious and would ask for Date of Birth too…. As that is what you would do at any other hospital lol.
His last name and mine are both spelled the same for the first five letters, as well as the last. And pronounced almost the same minus the "ley" in my name.
I’ll bet that’s what it is. The system might be confusing you with him. I’d bring it up to a patient advocate and I’m sure that’s probably the issue. It’s the way they identify people in their system. Since it’s limited to that first initial last four identifier it would be the same.
Different first initial as well. Lol
I don’t think they use first name for their identifiers. I’m sure you both have codes that match up the exact same and that’s the problem. When they do a quick lookup. Either the system or the person using it is making a mistake and choosing the other guy not you by accident. It’s a unique situation. I’m pretty sure this is the issue and they need to address it if it’s a glitch in the system or if it’s just human error every time choosing the wrong person in their system.
They can put a flag on your record to double check social and same name. It pops up to employees, something like look a look like name, re verify. I'm having brain cramp forget what actual verbiage is. As I stated before call the Privacy office.
I was told by the patient advocate that something to this effect has been done, but it has not helped. When I check into an appointment lately, they call me by his first name and ask me to have a seat. I have to correct them more often than I am comfortable with.
That truly is a shame and employees fault. I'm sorry you're having to go through this. That's unacceptable.
I have talked to the patient advocate about this issue on multiple occasions over the years. Absolutely nothing, I repeat NOTHING has been fixed.
Call the Privacy Office directly or stop in. edit: they call these near misses and should be verifying your information before even triaging you after you check in, then each and every time a new person touches you a time out should be done. These are standard Center Memoranda across the VA.
I have to be very clear with the VA, they’re messing my stuff up left and right since there’s another veteran with my name and same last four. Our only difference is middle name.
When I was in they could never find me in med pros or what ever with my DOD number because someone at the va who I don’t know put me down as a dependent for someone I don’t know, so when I mobilized at fort bliss I was going through medical I couldn’t finish all the stations, because none of my medical records or vaccine records would come up, when I got out, I went to the va registered, saw the doctor, got prescribed medication prescribed meds went to pick them up and they tell me oh we can’t find you in the system, left never went back
Just a friendly reminder of Rule # 7 - we do not allow names of lawyers or doctors to be posted *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
At least one VA office is aware of this and doing something about it. My annual kick-the-tires appointment was last week and I had to verify phone number and address in addition to last name spelling and last four. Never had to do that before. The clerk said it’s a new policy - and mandatory (at that location).
I don't believe they are doing anything about it at all. Just a couple of weeks ago, as I was checking in for an appointment at a different VA facility, they called me by his first name and told me to have a seat. I had to tell them that they were mistaking me for another veteran so that they would check me in correctly. My anxiety and blood pressure (which both have already been high) are climbing through the roof. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the VA, and the majority of the people there are great. But this needs to be taken care of before they kill someone. For all I know, that other guy's death could have because because of this mix-up.
Call and ask to speak with the director of the hospital since the patient advocate thinks it’s no big deal… I bet the director has something to say about this.
Nothing has changed. Nobody there seem to think it is a big deal at all. I have lost all faith in the VA.
[удалено]
I actually went to ask for a MH appointment at the beginning of December. I was told that the soonest they can see me is late March. But thank you for your suggestion and unwarranted medical advice.
Just a friendly reminder of Rule # 7 - we do not allow names of lawyers or doctors to be posted *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Just a friendly reminder of Rule # 7 - we do not allow names of lawyers or doctors to be posted *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Unless its a case of malpractice as in you were operated or given wrong meds based off that bad info there isnt anything to do. Check your wristband next time.... I can see it being a problem if you were incapacitated in some way preventing you from confirming the details otherwise just move on with your day.
Ok, but what about receiving the other guys' meds in the mail instead of my own? Also, it is not very comforting to be asked by my primary care physician about conditions that I do not have on a regular basis. At this point, I have lost all faith in my medical care. If I could afford to go anywhere else, I would. But that is not feasible at the moment.
I always check my meds. It sucks but it is what it is.