* * Anonymous Doc: When Notes Go Rogue (Part II)

Saturday, January 26, 2013

When Notes Go Rogue (Part II)

"Have you noticed the cardiologist's notes?"

"Yeah, he does them early."

"No, I mean, they're not correct."

"What do you mean?"

"They do not reflect reality."

"Huh?"

"I don't think he is seeing the patients.  What he is writing in his notes is either cut and pasted from a previous note, or in some cases seems to be completely invented."

"Then you probably shouldn't rely on them."

"No kidding.  But I wanted to know what to do about them."

"What I just said.  Don't rely on them."

"But shouldn't we say something?"

"To an attending?  No."

"Why not?"

"Because he's an attending."

"But he's writing notes on patients he's not seeing."

"You don't know that."

"Either he's writing notes on patients he's not seeing, or all of his patients are crazy, even the ones who aren't."

"Okay, so there's another explanation.  You can't start accusing attendings of things."

"I just thought it might make sense to mention it to someone, in case, I don't know, someone reads his notes and makes a treatment decision based on them."

"Well, like I just said, you shouldn't rely on his notes.  What else do you want me to say?"

"That he shouldn't be making up notes on patients he isn't seeing, and, presumably, falsely billing for consults he isn't doing."

"Come on, I'm not the hospital police."

"I just don't think it's right.  Or sensible.  Or without risk to the patient and the hospital."

"I guess it just means you should make sure your notes are extra good."

"I guess it does."

"Have you seen the patient in 1206 yet?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"No.  See, it's confusing if I say I saw someone I haven't, isn't it?"

"Sure, but you're a fellow, not an attending."

"Okay, I'm going to go see the patient in 1206 now."

"Great.  Thanks."

10 comments:

  1. Gulp...

    I was a cardiology patient in room no. 1206...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ye gods. With whom were you having this conversation??? Irresponsible lazy d-bag cardiologist. And an absolutely massive legal liability besides!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow. That is such a liability, not to mention fraud.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'd like to see a comment from some of the doctors who read this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's absolutely unacceptable. The disciplinary college would like to hear about this behaviour, I'm sure.

    ReplyDelete
  6. By doing nothing you become part of the problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe there will be a part III...

      Delete
    2. I hope so. You've always struck me as a person of integrity.

      Delete
  7. Not really understanding how you can justify not doing anything about this. Forget the insurance fraud, which is bad enough, this cardiologist may ultimately be responsible for killing someone.

    When doctors wonder why the general public often has such a bad view of them, this would be one perfect example.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I hope you are referring to the other fellow our man Anon was talking to, since there's no indication HE has decided to give up on this.

    ReplyDelete