Patient Privacy Agreement (?)

I was surprised that my electrologist didn’t have a patient privacy agreement, to ensure the safety my personal information. In the forms I signed, there was nothing to ensure my privacy. Is this normal, or should I ask her for one?

Also if any of you electrologists have a good basic privacy agreement that I could provide her with for us to both sign, I would appreciate that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

The industry standard is that there is an IMPLIED privacy agreement in electrolysis. You are used to signing paper privacy agreements now, because the HIPPA laws stipulate that you actually have NO PRIVACY.

If your electrologist actually has you sign a privacy agreement, then she/he must also take your social security number, maintain records on you for a specified period of time, even after you are no longer their client/patient and turn them over to the government, your insurance company, and any other entity the law may now, or in future deem to have a right to demand this info.

Of course, your hairs may be in league with Al Qaeda, and therefore of great importance to the president, and in that case, he will need briefings on your hair counts, and treatment areas. Hopefully, he will provide some of that private contractor money to your electrologist to stamp out these insurgent hairs once and for all. Halliburton must have contractor jobs for patriotic electrologists. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

(Disclaimer: This last paragraph, which will make no sense to non americans is humor. Trust me, I am a better electrologist than humorist.)

Well James, I could see the humor and even had a good laugh.

I’ll be thinking of it the next time I’m on the table. Maybe you could put up a sign “Killing hairs for America” or “Electrolysis is Patriotic!” Give out a little American flag after 100 hours of treatment? Are there government grants involved?

Seriously though, I’ve been continuing treatment. Still going for two hours a week. We shifted from two-one hour sessions to one-two hour session. My progress is great, my regrowth is minimal (except for my upper lip which I have accepted as MY problem area). I must say that the Hitler mustache thing is wholly unattractive <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

We have cleared everything above the chin line (as a “first” clearing) and am now only treating regrowth in that area. Started on the neck this week. My only fear is that when I get to the point that my appointments are shorter and further between, I will start to miss spending my hour or so with my electrologist.

I love what this has done for my skin texture. I don’t know if this is caused by the electro, or the religious cleaning and moisturizing routines that have come along with it, but it’s been great.

The best thing I did in this was consult this forum and you folks. Finding a great practitioner (Sabrena Smith in Hollywood, Ca - See James I learned!), and following the recommendations of the pros here.

Thanks so much!
Dee

Thats odd, I never had to sign a privacy policy either. But it’s not standard practice? Does it vary by state or is it all at the discression of the individual laser hair clinic practitioner?

Thats weird, I never even considered the whole privacy policy thing until you brought it up here.

Gary

my ALASE laser hair removal experiences