On Dad's HIPAA form. What do I ask doctor for?

Hi,
All he needs to do is
Hi,

All he needs to do is give blanket permission for you to be provided medical information at the Center he is being treated as --- ask them if they have a form you can get your dad to sign. It should be the same form he signed for your mother. You may also want to suggest if there are any other individuals who will be (on a consistent basis) taking him to appointments, chemo or other therapy to be listed. For example my mother, my brother, uncle niece and myself are all listed as having the ability to obtain medical information about my father. I have been able to speak to the doctor candidly about his prognosis and treatment, I have also been able to make appointments, discuss his care with the nurses, arrange for medical records to be sent, biopsy reports etc. Things that have made his life easier. I also was able to deal with some insurance problems. Additionally, my dad listed me on his insurance and medicare information so that I could deal with them if needed and his primary physician and the cancer team. We coordinated with the medical providers to make sure we got all the releases properly done. I also imagine we may need to update them because they may go stale after a certain period of time. If you are eligible for FMLA you may also ask his doctors to fill out a form for your employer so you can take sick leave (if you have it) to go and help with your dad or to visit him.

The one thing I have not done is ask for copies of his medical records,lab reports, scan results etc. Lucky for me I have been at some of the appointments even though I don't live near them and my dad keeps a binder with copies of all the test results, progress notes, lab results from blood tests, Pet scan analysis etc. which he will share with me. My dad is a pretty independent individual and this disease has really shaken him --- it is a delicate balancing act to be a supportive daughter verses being the one to direct the treatment. Believe me I am a control freak and if I had my way I would have directed his care in a different manner than he has --- and I have to remind myself that he has been in charge most of his life and I need to respect that even if I think a train wreck is happening (which it is by the way but it isn't my life it is his). This has been a difficult lesson for me to learn this past year since his diagnosis last Christmas.

I fully understand why you want all that information, but billing codes and everything you are asking for etc may make them go and complain to your father --- and then you would be cut off. Maybe a softer approach would be better and more productive to find out what your dad's condition is and what his treatment is going to be. Perhaps, a conversation with his oncologist where you express your concerns and tell them you have worked in the medical field and while your father may be in denial or only hearing what he wants to hear you would like to have his condition explained without any sugar coating. That you would like to know what treatment the doctors have decided upon and perhaps an outlook as to what you may be looking at and if there are warning signs you should look for as you stay in touch with your dad. If the doctor is not responsive sometimes the nurse will be more talkative, or someone in the oncology/chemo lab, or even the hospital social worker assigned to your parents. Sometimes by asking questions you can get additional services for your parents that might be a big help. For instance I was able to get visiting home health care nurses to come help my mom when they let my dad out of the hospital because she wasn't able to bath him or drive him to physical therapy. They would have never asked for this and didn't think they could get the services.

I have found over the last year that at first my parents were not as open to talking about his condition or asking for help --- but over time as they have seen that I have been here to help and support them and not tell them what to do (although I have done a bit of butt kicking at times when it was really required) that they have become more open to asking for my help and accepting it.

Of course everyone is different and family dynamics have alot to do with all of this when you add on top of everything the horrible words you have cancer and the fear that comes with that. I wish you luck and if you have any questions please let me know.

Best,
Cindy