BPDFamily.com

I'm looking to see if anyone else has had problems with the mental health care staff lack of communication with you as the spouse of a mental ill person and what you did.

My wife is diagnosed with Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).   She just got out of a 10 week stay at the hospital.  She went is as she was feeling very suicidal.   The hospital gave me no communication, finally after 6 weeks, my work (which allowed me to telework in the mornings, get the kids off to school, come in and then leave to go pick up the kids) started asking how long this was going to go on.   I called the hospital and asked the Dr. to call me.   The conversation was less than 2 minutes with me mostly explaining that I needed to know how things were going and what was going on.   The dr validated my concern (no help) and said it was "day to day" and he couldn't give me a time line.   A complete waste of time!  I expected him to tell me, this is what she came in for, these were the symptoms she exihibited, these are the benchmarks I am looking for for her to go home and this is where I see her at.   I have read articles that specifically state that the outcome of the afflicted individual is directly related to the support they get from family/friends but so far, I have been getting nothing from my wifes therapist, psychiatrist, dr's at the hospital.   It seems with this new HIPPA law, they don't tell the spouse anything.   My wife tells me what she understands them telling her but it is not much.  I send in questions with her and get very little back-she has a mental illness-they can't expect or rely on her to provide me with information.   

Anyone else out there experiencing this?  Any suggestions?

The mental health experts sure don't hesitate to send me the bill but the won't tell me a blessed thing.

Frustrated to say the least

Hydroman

This is very frustrating, Hydroman!

Perhaps you can ask the hospital if they are providing any specific support for family members? This is what slowly slowly is implemented in some hospitals. Or ask the doctor if you could have a speech all together, you, your wife and him or any other professional who is up-to-date with her diagnose?

Very frustrating, indeed!  HIPAA laws are very specific about what the staff can release w/o the patient's consent.  There should be a consent form that your wife can sign indicating to whom and what information can be released about her treatment/condition.  Look for a "HIPAA Notices of Privacy Practices" form. 

My wife and I have run into this type of thing multiple times. We always, always make sure that HIPPA paperwork is signed for both of us to have information shared. That way, if I don't feel like I'm getting enough information, I can point to the paperwork and demand that someone talk to me.

We are also considering getting some form of power of attorney (I believe that's what it is), also going both ways to ensure that we will always be able to make decisions as we know we would want them.

I would suggest, first, making sure that you have the necessary paperwork on file at the hospital that she's at, then set up a face to face meeting with the head doctor overseeing the program she's in with having your list of questions ready.

I understand why HIPPA is in place, but I do think that it's an overreach in cases like this when a spouse or family member is kept in the dark and can't make decisions that impact the treatment. Like you say, I like to know what my money is buying.