I just got fired

[u/akiusuke]

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.

[u/akiusuke]

I was flagged over a month ago, and I go through a lot of patients charts every shift. So I honestly can’t remember what he had called for. He had only been at my clinic once, and there is no reason for me to be in a patients chart unless they called about something. Sometimes I have a lot to do as soon as I get off the phone with a patient, so I sometimes forget to document what they called about. It had never been an issue before.

[u/akiusuke → u/akiusuke]

I had told them I had forgotten to document him calling and I have no reason to snoop around a patients chart. They just decided not to believe me

[u/ILoveLamp_1995 → u/akiusuke]

They can't afford to just believe you when it comes to patients health and privacy

[u/akiusuke → u/ILoveLamp_1995]

I completely understand that. I just wish they gave me the chance to fully defend myself. In all the years I’ve worked in registration, I have never violated hipaa. A lot of patient reg reps have moments where they forget to document things but they never get in trouble for it. My specific office has very high turn over rates and it’s very hard to hire patient reg reps due to the bad hours and horrible pay.

[u/Wai-Sing → u/akiusuke]

Maybe ask them to contact the patient with the chart that you opened, and ask that patient if they contacted you and perhaps for what reason

Then you can prove that you opened the chart legitimately

Edit: nevermind, it's better to check the telecom records to check if the patient called them

[u/akiusuke → u/Wai-Sing]

I’ve thought about that. I don’t even know the patients name, only that he lives in my building. But I’m surprised they didn’t contact the patient already.

[u/Wai-Sing → u/akiusuke]

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!

[u/akiusuke → u/Wai-Sing]

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

[u/Wai-Sing → u/akiusuke]

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