One of the last times I went to the dentist years ago, the hygienist pulled up my chart on the computer to show me something. Very first thing that happens when my chart is opened, a big pop-up reading NERVOUS, MENTAL PROBLEMS appears.

The hygienist tried to close it as fast as a kid closing a porn page when their parent comes around. But I saw it.

She was really embarrassed and I was just shocked and felt like shit about it.

I LOVE AMERICAN MEDICINE!

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This happened to me at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. I saw a GI psychologist in the Center for Digestive Health before this law went into effect and I was livid when I found out that psychology notes in their department are accessible without an additional layer of privacy to ANYONE in Northwestern’s system or any provider that uses Epic MyChart at other institutions. I’m sharing the info to warn anyone else who may be concerned.

I found this out because when I attempted to transfer care with the support of my gastroenterologist and PCP, other psychologists declined to see me saying they had reviewed my records and did not feel it appropriate to see me because I had been seen by Dr. Pandit. It felt like they closed ranks on me.

I incorrectly assumed, because I had seen other psychotherapists in the system and my notes were protracted, that her notes would be protected too. They’re not. Medical Records told me they couldn’t do anything about it, but I could turn off Epic’s Care Everywhere which shares notes with outside providers and I did turn it off.

American healthcare may be shitty, and it may be too expensive, but at least

The healthcare industry is a massive failure and on top of that it ruins people financially.

This is reason #5071 why (maybe to my detriment) I don't trust doctors/psychiatrists/the medical system writ large. I believe in modern medicine but the implementation and surrounding industry are just the stuff of nightmares

Best healthcare system in the world, folks.