The Assertive Cancer Patient

More On HIPAA, and Marketing Cancer

The HIPAA violation at Swedish pales next to the problems I had at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. I keep meaning to write that story, but other things get in the way.

Another thing I've been meaning to point out is the fierce competition between the two largest cancer centers in Seattle, SCCA and Swedish. I've been a patient at both and I worked for SCCA's marketing department for years as a freelance writer, so I've seen the marketing of cancer from the inside.

That's why I was so amused (but not surprised) to see that Dean Forbes, who handles media relations for SCCA, was reading my criticisms of Swedish on my blog. See his comment on the post 15 Phone Calls.

Don't worry Dean, I'll be writing about SCCA soon.

HIPAA Violations at Swedish

Swedish Cancer Institute, where I have received some of my care, has put me on its fund-raising mailing list.

And I’ve been getting letters, from the head of the cancer institute, the same Dr. Einstein who never answered MY letter; from Linda Hohengarten, director of oncology nursing; and—the gloppiest one—from Janet D. True, the chairman [sic] of the Swedish Medical Center Foundation.

How did the Swedish Medical Center Foundation get my name? The Cancer Institute gave it to them.

It seems to me that putting my name on a list of patients and sending it over to the fund-raising arm of the institution is a violation of my patient privacy.

I did not give Swedish permission to pass on my name and identify me as a patient, nor did I sign ANYTHING that said I wanted to be the target of these fund-raising letters.

Especially from an institution as unresponsive as Swedish.

This is the cancer center where I had to speak to 15 people to get the answer to a simple question about my bill. (See 15 Phone Calls.)

This is the cancer center where, when I wrote a letter to the director about this problem, he never responded.

This is the cancer center that can’t straighten out a billing problem that I’ve wasted hours on over the past couple of months. (See Medical Billing Woes.)

The very same cancer center where, when I complained about problems in the treatment room—nurses not washing their hands as they went between patients, nurses not double-checking chemo drugs before starting IVs, and more—my doctor suggested I find another doctor.

And they want me to give them money? I’d be laughing, if I weren’t so mad.

Time to pull out my HIPAA file and fire off a letter to the Office of Civil Rights, which is in charge of HIPAA violations.

I think I’ll also send letters to Dr. Einstein (again!), Nurse Hohengarten, and Ms. True, explaining why I won’t be donating to this year’s annual campaign.

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.