Posted by Racer on September 20, 2004, at 20:42:48
In reply to Mental health history, posted by pinkeye on September 20, 2004, at 18:26:32
This is a controversial issue, of course, and you might want to google "HIPAA" for information on the laws involved. The stated idea is that your health records can follow you and be "portable" for your benefit. The reality may or may not live up to that goal, of course. (I tend to be pretty close to Dinah, of course, on this issue.)
The good news is that your history cannot be made available without your written consent in most cases. The bad news is that there are situations in which your consent is not necessary. On the other hand, some aspects of your health history are available pretty easily to just exactly the sorts agencies that most worry me: government, health insurance agencies, etc. How easy is it for them to access that information? It varies. For instance, since I was involuntarily hospitalized last year, that information is available to the government -- for my own protection, of course, so that I can't -- for example -- buy a gun. (Whether or not it's going to be a problem if I reapply to the school district isn't clear -- yet -- but I'm sure I'll report back on that if that time comes.)
The good news, of course, is that the ADA does offer some protections to patients. How much, again, is pretty unclear, and will depend on exact circumstances.
As for notes, that's pretty much at the discretion of the individual therapist. Some take copious notes -- whether during sessions or afterwards -- others take few notes, and many fall in the middle. The more detailed a therapist's notes, the more exposure to you if those records are made available to anyone for any reason. Therapists know this, though, and many choose to include only general themes in their notes -- enough to satisfy any insurance company, for example, or to refresh their own memories.
If you're uncomfortable with this therapist's note taking, you can either ask him/her to take more marginal notes, or you can look for another therapist. Honestly, many therapists don't take notes during a session, because it really and truly is distracting for clients. I know I find it to be so, although I don't object to marginal note taking -- just to someone who seems to be trying to write down everything I say.
I hope that helps.
poster:Racer
thread:393106
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040918/msgs/393160.html