Medical Office Question

[luvthatduke]

My apologies, I forgot if I'm giving an update I should put it here:

Just wanted to say a big
to all of you for your help.
I finally saw a new Podiatrist yesterday.
He was great, I trust him, & he was sympathetic
to my frustration that the previous Dr.
hadn't explained anything about her Dx .
Turns out I was 100% misdiagnosed.
Not Plantar Fasciitis, it's neuropathy
due to nerve damage w/diabetes.
No cure, & I can't take most Rx due to my kidneys,
but I'm getting used to that.
I'm just thankful for the right answers.

Thanks again!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
OP:
I have a question for anyone who works in a medical office.

I saw a Podiatrist a month or so ago and I want to try another one in town
for the same medical problem.

I don't need a referral, I can go to any specialist I desire in network,
and it doesn't matter that I was already seen (per my insurance rep).

Here's my question: If I make an appt. with the new Dr. do I have to tell them I saw the previous Dr.?
And, would that office know that I had been seen by the previous Dr.?
I really just want a brand new diagnosis without having to tell the new Dr.
what the previous Dr. said (I was not thrilled with her attitude, suggestions & treatment).

TIA for any help.

 

[disneychrista]

I would imagine that they wouldn't know anything about your prior appointment unless they are part of the same medical group. You would need to give them permission to access your medical records at another provider.

 

[auntfrannie]

My doctor is affiliated with a hospital so they're able to see all information that was done by any other doctor that also participates in that hospital's system.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Almost all the doctors and medical facilities (hospital groups) in this area (Chicag) use the same system (Epic) and all visits (past and future), medical professionals, medications, tests are available to both the patient and all providers. Easiest is to mention what you did here, I have seen another, want a second.

 

[Christine]

Some can see, some can't. No way to tell. But there's no need to worry. Doctors are used to 2nd opinions. Just say you saw another doctor, aren't sure of the diagnosis you received, and wanted a second opinion.

 

[EACarlson]

If both use Epic for their Electronic Health Records then like @Dan Murphy said above the new provider will be able to see that you saw the previous provider. Epic is the 800 lb gorilla in EHR, but there are still a lot of other options. If your previous provider has an online account where you can look at your data, that should tell you if it's Epic or not. Other options are Athena and Meditech.

 

[DisneyHardin]

As someone above said, if both offices use Epic, they might be able to see, but even with Epic, I think they would need to dig into your file to see what other specialists you have seen.

I would just go to the new doctor and possibly after the diagnosis mention whether it is in line with what the first doctor told you or not.

 

[lanejudy]

If you are sure this provider is completely separate from the other one, then no they cannot see your records. However, sometimes even what seems to be a "private practice" is connected in with a hospital system and share records.

Just because 2 offices use the same software system does NOT automatically mean they have access to your records. Nope. If they are part of the same network/hospital/group, yes they will be able to see records from all other providers in that network/hospital/group. But 2 entirely separate doctor's offices, both using EPIC but otherwise completely unrelated practices -- they cannot see your records.

 

[DisneyHardin]

But 2 entirely separate doctor's offices, both using EPIC but otherwise completely unrelated practices -- they cannot see your records.

Where I live, there are 3 major hospital groups. All 3 use Epic and all 3 can see basic information that doctors from another hospital group entered.

 

[EACarlson]

If you are sure this provider is completely separate from the other one, then no they cannot see your records. However, sometimes even what seems to be a "private practice" is connected in with a hospital system and share records.

Just because 2 offices use the same software system does NOT automatically mean they have access to your records. Nope. If they are part of the same network/hospital/group, yes they will be able to see records from all other providers in that network/hospital/group. But 2 entirely separate doctor's offices, both using EPIC but otherwise completely unrelated practices -- they cannot see your records.

It is Epic specific, unless you opt out, you allow them to share your records with every other provider that has EPIC. I'll tell you my story to illustrate my point.
I moved from MN to WI in 2017. My Dr. in MN was on EPIC then. My Dr. in WI was on Athena. I had a surgery in 2004, that I could not remember the date or even the year of so I guessed 2006. That was in my record in WI until 2021, when my WI Dr. went to EPIC, the next time I went in, it now showed the exact date and Dr. that performed the surgery in my records.

 

[lanejudy]

It is Epic specific, unless you opt out, you allow them to share your records with every other provider that has EPIC.

all 3 can see basic information that doctors from another hospital group entered

Not here. Maybe our state laws are tighter (that wouldn't surprise me). Maybe I opted out though I don't ever recall doing so. We have 2 hospital systems, 1 five minutes away and another 30 minutes away. All 3 people in my immediate family see providers at both. The providers do not have access to see anything from the other hospital system, only their own system, unless it was specifically shared. It's actually frustrating because obviously it's much easier to do labs for my PCP at the local hospital, but the specialist affiliated with the other hospital cannot pull up those results.

 

[megsters]

I work in health information, and the answer varies. Some offices utilize health information exchanges more than others.

Find a new doctor, and get a second opinion. You have to be your own advocate in healthcare. Depending if you have had any diagnostic testing, it might be cost effective to share that information again. Your health insurance may not pay for those again, if you have recently had some.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Just to agree, simply having EPIC software doesn’t necessarily mean that information systems are connected. Not all are. So going to a new doctor it doesn’t necessarily mean that that doctor would be able to access old records from another doctor.

OP, it’s very common that people change doctors and go for second opinions, etc. I would just say I”m here for another opinion. That says it all and it’s understood that perhaps you weren’t happy with a previous doctor. You don’’t have to say so. (And I wouldn’t.)

 

[luvthatduke]

Thank you so much to all who replied.
I knew the Dis would have the answers.
I have gained a wealth of knowledge

 

[slo]

I manage a Chiropractor’s office and he still does paper charting and we look up no records from other places.

He does ask new patients if they’ve seen anyone else, just so he knows if they’ve had any treatments. If they lie, he’ll never know, and if they say yes, then he asks them further about that. If a patient said the other doctor did a therapy that didn’t work, then he wants to know what it is so he can explore a different therapy.

You can always tell a new doctor you’ve seen a different doctor but would like to be clean slate to get a different perspective.

Good luck - I hope everything works out for you

ETA…you may get the same diagnosis regardless how you approach it - it’s the treatment that may be different

 

[china mom]

I have gone to three different podiatrists within 6 months looking for the right one.

Podiatrist #1 doesn't know how to work a computer and has no idea if there is anything else in my charts but I always tell him who I have been seeing and what I have been doing since it is always pretty obvious when I have had major reconstructive surgery.

I have been with my main podiatrist for years and I like him and trust him with my care EXCEPT when it comes to a very rare condition that I have.

Podiatrist #2 apparently is not on the same system as my orthopedic surgeon but I have him my history. W did not click and I did not trust his expertise with my disease.

Podiatrist #3 can see everything that has eve been done to me, including the x-rays from the surgeon even though it is a different hospital and different medical system.

#3 is about 1.5 hour drive so I keep #1 on the roster for routine check-ups and issue not related to my condition.

My point is that none of the doctors take any of it personally. I have no problem telling each of them that they are a second, third, or even fourth opinion. The important thing is that I get the most appropriate care.

But, I have also learned not to offer any information that was gleaned from other doctor's until my dr. has examined me and formed their own opinion. After that, I will explain what has been diagnosed and tried in the past. I spent four days in the ER one time being treated by four different doctor's (and then later, my PCP) and all doctors involved kept treating me for a condition that I never had because they were following being the original mis-diagnosis.

 

[luvthatduke]

Just wanted to say a big
to all of you for your help.
I finally saw a new Podiatrist yesterday.
He was great, I trust him, & he was sympathetic
to my frustration that the previous Dr.
hadn't explained anything about her Dx .
Turns out I was 100% misdiagnosed.
Not Plantar Fasciitis, it's neuropathy
due to nerve damage w/diabetes.
No cure, & I can't take most Rx due to my kidneys,
but I'm getting used to that.
I'm just thankful for the right answers.

Thanks again!

 

[sam_gordon]

But 2 entirely separate doctor's offices, both using EPIC but otherwise completely unrelated practices -- they cannot see your records.

This is wrong. I found myself in the ER in a hospital 3 states away. They were able to see at least part of my records. TOTALLY different group.

OP, simply tell the 2nd doc "Yes, I've seen someone else, but I'm looking for a 2nd opinion." You don't have to tell them what the first doc says. If they ask say "I'd rather have your opinion without influence from others."

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Just a hug Luvthatduke and prayers you feel better! I am currently dealing with feet pain, too. No fun at all. take care of yourself!

 

[TheIncredibles!]

it’s very common to get a second opinion.