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Trying to fill out a new patient form for a

Posted: Sep 22, 2014

And it asks about PMH, PSH, HPI and under social history it asks: Sexual partners: one or multiple. Would you answer truthfully or do as I did. N/A: Should be asked by OB-GYN if even then, IMO;

I would be tempted to write this: - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Not pertinent to chief complaint.

But then it would open the door to a whole lot of speculation. Why in the heck are these questions even being asked these days?

I would also be tempted to just put 1-2, or maybe 1000-2000 just to shake them up. Really, I do not believe this would be pertinent to a dermatologic issue.

I'm really getting afraid of this Obamacare and Big Brother everywhere mentality!

I'll probably get flamed for this. Too bad!

Patient Form - Getting Bad - LinK

[ In Reply To ..]
It's getting bad when it comes to what doctors will ask. They asked my daughter's 11-year-old friend at her back to school checkup if she was sexually active. My daughter's doctor said they're starting to ask those questions of everyone.

I'd just leave it blank. - NM

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I would ask why - susan5

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they want to know.

The government wants certain - CaliMT

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information regarding risky behaviors that could impact your health. I spoke with several vendors of EMRs a couple of years ago, and they all said there was certain information required from an electronic medical record that could be pulled out from the EMR and entered into a healthcare database. I assumed that that would include demographics, such as whether more women than men contracted breast cancer, for example. But no, the information required had nothing to do with demographics or even health conditions but just with numbers of patients who smoked, drank, used drugs, had risky sexual behaviors, and did not get enough exercise. Basically, this sounds to me like Medicare and other insurance companies trying to get out of paying for certain conditions based on a patient's personal habits and using the EMR to help them do it.

OP here, I might could understand if an OB-GYN - office asking, but dermatology has nothing

[ In Reply To ..]
to do with how many partners you have or don't have. Not asked about exercise, don't have Medicare and intend to answer with why are they asking like one person stated above. Noticed in the PMH asked if hysterectomy and only gave 2 examples to circle, fibroids or cancer. That to me is ridiculous as there are other reasons for a hysterectomy. Also asked do you have hyperthyroidism, not hypo. As far as not paying from my insurance, it pays really well, never been turned down for any expense, medical procedure, drugs, nothing, PPO with one of the big companies. If I was going in with a yeast infection, perhaps then would maybe give that information but dermatology, nah.

The poster you replied to is correct - hard to get away from govt intrusion

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Even cardiologists object to asking about risky behavior, but they are required to, just as your dermatologist is required to ask.

Might be required but am not required - to answer

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The last time I was asked what I think were a little intrusive was at the GYN's office, but I could more or less understand that. I have been to several physicians over the past few years and I really don't think most are required to ask who you slept with or how many you've slept with. Anyway, I did write down "Why do you ask" and will see what kind of response I get. If required by law to ask, I will certainly post here that response.

OP- told at doctor's office this morning had nothing - to do with govt issues

[ In Reply To ..]
They said people show up with skin conditions, veneral warts in the genitalia area, different things related to STDs and sometimes people either are not willing to discuss or maybe don't know prior to arriving there. The question allows the PA or doctor to get some background information (if the person truthful, I guess) to help with a diagnosis.

Hyperthyroidism causes skin itching/flushing - Not a dermatologist - nm

[ In Reply To ..]

OP: And I have hypothyroidism, that was not asked and - can cause itchy skin, dry skin,

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hair loss, all of which would fit into perhaps why you might visit a dermatologist, hypothyroidism as well but not listed.

Anyway, went this morning and of course I asked why the part about how many sexual partner(s) you have had. The PA said not mandated by the gov (because I asked just that) but things like perhaps rashes, skin disorders from HIV, syphilis, veneral warts all have shown up in the dermatologist's office and they see quite often. Some patients come into the office perhaps not knowing or not wanting to talk about if they have a STD.

I did tell him not good at math, started counting and ran out of fingers and toes for how many sexual partners have had. The look on his face was priceless! He blushed and became flustered, telling his assistant no Rxs written for me when he did give me one for some cream for eczema, had to remind him.

CaliMT, had nothing to do with gov papers - I asked

[ In Reply To ..]
As I stated, forms off the internet, noting to do with Medicare or Obamacare, have neither of those and patients asked because some skin conditions are as a result of STDs. They told me venereal warts, rashes from HIV, syphilis all have shown up in the dermatologist's office and that was their reason for asking.

The strongest risk factor for herpes - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
The strongest risk factor for genital herpes is the number of lifetime sexual partners. A lot easier to ask and answer a question like that on paper than to have to ask and answer face to face.

Although there is a legitimate medical reason for asking, the government (public health) is supposed to track communicable diseases like TB, measles, ebola, and STDs, and they also do research linking behaviors and conditions to cancer, etc. Did you know that there is a strong link between gum disease and pancreatic cancer?

When my husband is asked the same question from his - providers, then I will be more willing

[ In Reply To ..]
o answer. He just told me has never had that question asked and he has a slew of providers, pulmonary, ortho, GI, goes to a sleep study physician to name the majority. Not aware of gum disease and pancreatic cancer but do know about link with heart disease. I am not a shrinking violet when it comes to either asking or being asked questions. I have gone to various physicians and except for the 1 office, (GYN) have never been asked about my partners or lack of. U could understand trying to track something like HIV, STDs, measles, Ebola and the like but mine falls into none of those categories. Anyway, long story short, will definitely ask why tomorrow and then post what I am told. They have questions, I have some also.

People do not generally go to pulmonologist - for skin rash. nm

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OP- AND I was not going for a skin rash either - so your point is???

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I told of several different physicians that he goes to. Why are some so determined just to be a horse's rear end?

Sorry you took this personally - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
The replies are a bit out of order. My point was that there are legitimate reasons for asking about sexual partners at the dermatologist.

I find it tiresome that people think that the government is interested in their sex lives. Tracking data is not new. Every Medicare/MA/VA billing form is billed by diagnostic code and has gender and birthdate on it. Nothing new. Insurance forms are tracked by the insurance companies. They know if you have a pre-existing condition, are of childbearing years, etc.

I used to work at a local public health department and part of my job was to fill in a report on how many people, male/female, general birthdate (like 0 to 5) race or ethnicity and how many people were exposed (say,in the case of measles, etc.) It is a very valuable thing for the public to know.

When you consider the places the docs look and stick their fingers, it is surprising anyone finds a little personal question offensive.

so, you think if your husband went to the same dermatologist, they would - give him a different form?

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't get it. Every physician's office has their own questionnaire. This has nothing to do with the government.

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