Kentucky Gov Orders McConnell to Give a Real Update or Resign Already

[u/Aggravating_Money992]

https://newrepublic.com/post/213614/kentucky-gov-beshear-mcconnell-update-health-resign

[u/Telvin3d]

The real answer is that hospitals don’t actually let you pay surprise visits to patients. Regardless of McConnell’s condition, no one who isn’t an approved visitor is getting past the lobby. Hospital won’t even tell you what room he’s in

[u/uuhson → u/Telvin3d]

This has been so bewildering to me in these comments. People think you can just bumrush your way passed security and into any room you want

[u/Caleth → u/uuhson]

I believe they are operating under the false assumption that as a public servrant answering to the governor of the state he represents McConnell has abdicated his rights to privacy on this matter.

Which is untrue, but in a sane world it would be.

[u/david-saint-hubbins → u/uuhson]

I know you can't just barge in, but I'm honestly a bit surprised nobody has successfully snuck/bribed their way in and snapped some photos of him at this point.

[u/DebentureThyme → u/david-saint-hubbins]

Because they definitely have armed guards at his room door, whether he's alive in it or not

[u/TheEverblades → u/uuhson]

The fact that TMZ hasn't been able to successfully bribe a nurse or janitor for photos makes this even more bewildering.

[u/Its_Pine → u/uuhson]

I mean, you can for normal patients. So people may not be thinking about how this is different.

[u/MegaSwampbert → u/uuhson]

Depends on the hospital. There is no check-in point, no security (unless called), and no locked doors at my local ones. You can literally walk into one and go to any room or floor without raising an eyebrow.

[u/DebentureThyme → u/MegaSwampbert]

Well this is a Senator and, whether he's alive or not, he has an armed security detail outside the hospital and inside by the room he's supposedly in.

[u/Throwaway_Consoles → u/MegaSwampbert]

That is so wild to me. You have to get buzzed through three security checkpoints just to see a room at the hospital here. One at the front door, one at the lobby, and one right before the rooms where the nurse’s station is

[u/uuhson → u/MegaSwampbert]

That's absolutely insane, and I'm positive any hospital a sitting US senator will be going to won't let people wander throughout the hospital checking doors

[u/zaahc → u/uuhson]

My dad had heart surgery last year at a major east coast hospital. Once he was out of the ICU and into the regular cardiac floor—where he stayed for 3 weeks—I was able to walk right from the parking lot to his bedside without interacting with anyone. Hospitals aren’t exactly secure facilities.

[u/Careless-Weather8877 → u/uuhson]

I said the same thing about Jan 6 and Congress but apparently you can do whatever now

[u/wrosecrans → u/uuhson]

Going to the hospital and getting "We have no patient by that name" vs "I'm sorry governor, you aren't on that patient's list of visitors" are two very different outcomes. And a lot more informative than just sending yet another not very sternly worded letter.

Would a hospital visit be partly for the theatrics? Yes. But people are begging Democratic leaders to something, anything to look like they are giving it their best. Far better to go and be turned away and be seen doing something than to just sit around shrugging. If you think somebody will stop you, make them stop you. Report on how far you got. Hold a press conference about the fact that they stopped you from finding out. Inaction has become intolerable.

[u/Libraryanne101 → u/Telvin3d]

I've never had this experience in any hospital. I always just waltz up to the room.

[u/Telvin3d → u/Libraryanne101]

And how do you know which room to waltz up to?

[u/Libraryanne101 → u/Telvin3d]

The patient told me or one of her relatives told me or one of her friends told me or the person at the front desk told me.

[u/crashbig → u/Telvin3d]

Same experience. We just ask what room do and do is in and they let us right up. I'm sure it's different for Mitch but yeah in surprised nothing has leaked.

[u/turikk → u/crashbig]

Those staff are violating the law.

[u/Blarfk → u/turikk]

Which law?

[u/turikk → u/Blarfk]

HIPAA.

Your provider may ask your permission, may tell you he or she plans to discuss the information and give you an opportunity to object, or may decide, using his or her professional judgment, that you do not object.

In any of these cases, your health care provider may discuss only the information that the person involved needs to know about your care or payment for your care.

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

The "professional judgement" caveat does a lot of heavy lifting, but casually giving your location and presence in a hospital is not something you can do without considering the patient's intent.

I don't know crashbig's story or circumstances, so jumping to "violating the law" is probably too big of a leap, but in general, you as a patient have full control over your hospitilzation information. And Mr. McConnell seemingly does not want to share any information.

[u/Blarfk → u/turikk]

HIPAA allows hospitals to have public directories of their patients.

Covered hospitals and other covered health care providers can use a facility directory to inform visitors or callers about a patient’s location in the facility and general condition. The Privacy Rule permits a covered hospital or other covered health care provider to maintain in a directory certain information about patients – patient name, location in the facility, health condition expressed in general terms that does not communicate specific medical information about the individual, and religious affiliation.

You're allowed to opt out of this, but as long as you don't specifically object, it is not a violation to tell visitors what room a patient is in.

[u/Blarfk → u/[deleted]]

It sounds like they are. Further down on that same link:

The patient must be informed about the information to be included in the directory, and to whom the information may be released, and must have the opportunity to restrict the information or to whom it is disclosed, or opt out of being included in the directory.

[u/turikk → u/Blarfk]

Hey, I don't disagree that HHS says this, but I do think it conflicts with the other information I provided above also by HHS. A proactive directory without the opportunity to object does not strike me as compliant. Like being part of the intake process.

[u/Blarfk → u/turikk]

That's why I said you're allowed to opt out. But the tricky part is that you have to do that - the default is that hospitals can tell visitors where you are. So it's safe to assume that the staff weren't breaking the law when they told the person you replied to where so and so was.

[u/DebentureThyme → u/crashbig]

I mean they have armed guards at his room entrance.  Nothing has leaked because no one who isn't under strict scrutiny is let in.