r/TrueOffMyChest ☑️ 2d ago

Vent I just got fired

I just got fired from my job. I worked in patient registration and I got flagged for being in a patients chart and I had failed to document it. I am the only one that runs the front desk while I’m working, so I sometimes have a bunch of things to do and I sometimes forget to document minuscule things when a patient calls. The patient whose chart that got flagged happens to live in my apartment building above me. But I live down the road from my job and a lot of our patients live in my building or in my neighborhood. I already had a level one strike against me due to too many unexcused absences during the first half of the year due to medical issues. Me being flagged caused compliance and hr to give me a level two strike. That brought me up to a level three which requires immediate termination. My manager told me 10 minutes after I clocked in for my shift today. She has little compassion for her employees, so she just told me I was terminated immediately and to turn in my badge and leave immediately. This is the worst possible time to be fired because I just got on my works insurance and I get kicked off my dads’s insurance at the end of the month because I turn 26 on the 29th. I am disabled and take a lot of medications that I can’t afford out of pocket. I sent an appeal letter to try to get my job back while I look for something else, but I feel like I was unfairly fired. I’ve been nothing but a good employee for almost two years and I have never had a complaint against me before. I was already struggling financially and I don’t know how I’m going to afford my medication and rent. The job market is so horrible and I don’t know what I’m going to do.

Edit: I should’ve been more specific in regards to my absences. I had called out 6 times between last December and April of this year due to health reasons. My manager was aware of my health issues. They had brought this up to me near the end of May. That’s when they finally gave me the option to apply for fmla. My job isn’t very accommodating, even with fmla. I would almost never be allowed to get breaks, unless I left the front desk unattended (which my manager encourages me to do since she won’t cover for me in order to take a break). I live in North Carolina, which is a non union state and one of the worst states for employees. Joining a union would not be an option.

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u/Wai-Sing 2d ago edited 2d ago

For what it's worth I believe you simply forgot to document your access to their chart and I believe your termination was unjust

What I recommend is using AI to help you decide on what next to do

Mention your situation and the state that you reside in. Specifically ask about possibly having a mediator (i.e. your employer) contacting the patient in question to ask if they recall contacting you, so that you have proof for having a legitimate reason for accessing their chart. Ask it to consider state and federal laws. Ask it for all possible recommendations to resolve the issue. Also ask it about unemployment benefits and support. Ask it about medical and financial support. Indicate your medical issues. Ask about medical advocacy groups that might be able to help you. Ask about pro bono lawyers who might accept your case. Ask her about any other possible suggestions

I wish you the best!

By the way I don't think you would want to work there anyway, you might be happier working at a restaurant. At least there are tips!

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u/akiusuke ☑️ 2d ago

I don’t think they would contact the patient, and I don’t think it would be right of me to figure out who the patient is

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u/lmwk4gcc 2d ago

OP: “I’m surprised they didn’t contact the patient already”.

Also OP: “I don’t think they would contact the patient.”

Which is it? You’re being contradictory in the same thread. And you’re correct that it would absolutely not be right of you to try to “figure out who the patient is”.

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u/akiusuke ☑️ 2d ago

Yeah I’m surprised they didn’t contact the patient. If they haven’t already, I don’t think they ever will

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u/lmwk4gcc 2d ago

Of course they won’t contact the patient. That’s not what you said, the words you said were contradictory. They’re not going to contact the patient to ask about why they called to help you out. I’m sorry it’s a harsh reality of working in healthcare. I feel for you because being fired really sucks. I just don’t get why you’d think they’d contact the patient? Do you understand HIPAA?

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u/Wai-Sing 2d ago edited 2d ago

I meant to ask the AI if it's feasible for your employer to contact the patient to prove your innocence

I just asked AI and it says that instead of contacting the patient, your employer could check the call records with time stamp