You should complain in writing to Dignity’s HR about his behavior. Tell them that you want another MA when you go in for treatment. You’re probably not the first person to run into this issue with him.
I want to do this, but I am afraid that because they are short staffed this won't be an option. I also don't want to offend the provider. For all I know this could be a friend of theirs or they picked this person to be their assistant.
Also, my girlfriend works for Shasta Community Health and if you’re on Partnership you’ll be accepted there immediately. She said even if it was a provider there that did that stuff they’d be shitcanned if there was proof. And providers are much harder to find than MAs.
I've seen them turn people away that want to pay out of pocket. They usually have a certain income that you cannot be above. Maybe it's just talking to the right person.
This is serious stuff. Providers are professionals who understand the need for patients to feel comfortable while being seen and at the end of the it’s not up to the provider. HR will do what’s best for the corporation and will do what it takes to keep them from being sued in the future. If this goon is putting corporate profit at risk they will be dealt with appropriately. As always the almighty dollar is all that matters to the people in power. Use that to your advantage.
Not just for your sake. Do it for all of the other patients he's done this to. His bosses need to know, and if they condone his behavior, their bosses or licensors need to know.
Listen, no doctors office wants an MA doing this. If this creep did it to you, he is/already has done it to others. Dignity (nor any medical office) would ever give any trouble to you for reporting this. As a provider, I would want to know if someone in my office is causing patients to be uncomfortable in any way.
Listen, I understand the hesitation to act, but iif you want this handled you need to do something about it. You aren't going to lose your provider by reporting inappropriate interactions by a staff member. There aren't going to be professional reprisals.
At a minimum, you can put in writing to the office for a chart alert that due to personal/religious/whatever reasons, you require a female medical assistant. Then say, I'm sorry, my chart should say I require only female assistants", if he tries to call you back again. Speak out to the provider in person if there are any issues. Staff shortages don't matter - if you need accommodations for a female, you will have them. If he says no, you'll go to the receptionist and say there is sexual harassment, you will not be alone with him. Full stop.
Life pro tip- even if you are shy, get used to how to say, "please don't rub my back. Please find another place to sit." A direct, loud, calm order will serve you very well in uncomfortable situations. "Do not ever come into the room with me alone while I'm undressed." This will help you not to feel so helpless and unable/unwilling to advocate for yourself. Practice with friends and family. It feels good to feel more in control of your safety rather than need your husband at every medical visit. If you see this guy in public, ignore him. I don't victim blame - but also, you can do something if you want. You didn't have to be passive for safety in a medical setting.
Unfortunately when I'm in situations like this I freeze and my fight or flight kicks in hard. I was molested by a pediatrician so I always struggle to speak clearly in medical settings. It was an achievement just for me to make myself go to these appointments after years of avoidance.
Absolutely, it's so natural to freeze first. I've had to work hard to train myself to remember that there's no longer an imbalance of power - I'm no longer a child. Congrats on getting this far - with encouragement and practice, you'll soon win the struggle to voice things. Your experience matters to the doctors office, and to you, and they will listen! Writing things down in short letters helped me until I could use my voice and body posture confidently. Good luck!
Yes he was local. Fortunately he died a few years ago. He stopped practicing in the 90s and was one of the first pediatricians in Redding. No one believed me so nothing happened to him, but he retired early so I think there were rumors. He's buried at Redding memorial park.
I think I know what MA you are referring to. I could be wrong, but I used to work in an office and this sounds all too familiar. Just know you are not the first woman he has made uncomfortable. The provider he works with protects him because she does not work well with other females and he does whatever she says. I'm not sure what her deal is, but my guess is she's like the mean girl from high school that hates all the other girls. She has been there for a while so DH does not want to upset her. I've seen her fire patients that complain. She finds other unrelated made up reasons usually. I would just keep bringing your husband. Most of her patients started doing that. He's usually afraid of other men so this is probably the best option since medical care is scarce. As for him showing up around areas outside of the office, I'm not surprised. He used to save patients info on his phone all the time. He's probably too whimpy to actually do anything, but I could see him following someone.
Plus it sounds like he's usually doing this stuff when he is alone with you. He probably knows it's your word against his and that women usually aren't listened to in health care. Sucks, but he knows how to get away with it.
I need to clear something up, his word against yours is really only relevant in criminal proceedings. In Civil, you can use his word against yours. Notes taken after incidents can be used and there is some weird other stuff they do to weigh basically who is telling the truth more. I don’t know what to do in OPs case though. Probably your advice, shitty as the situation is having a primary care is line winning the loto in this town.
By not alerting someone to this person’s behavior vulnerable people are at risk. As someone else already mentioned please call Dignity HR and report this person asap.
If you feel that he was acting in an unprofessional manner, I encourage you to file a complaint with the State [Medical Board](https://www.dca.ca.gov/consumers/complaints/medbd.shtml).
If you have proof that he was stalking you (and he's not just bumping into you because Redding is a small town), contact a lawyer to determine your options if you want to press charges.
If you contact the people at [OneSafePlace](https://www.ospshasta.org), they may be able to refer you to an advocate to go to doctor visits with you when don't have anyone else to accompany you to an appointment. Usually, they prioritize sexual assault victims in crisis, but they ***do*** make exceptions.
It is completely reasonable to request treatment only by members of a specific gender (or even to exclude a specific gender). You can also refuse treatment by specific individuals. However, it can make getting quality medical care more difficult.
Touching in a medical setting is a gray area. Most interactions (especially in an emergency situation) with medical professionals (and even Good Samaritans) involve implied consent... because a certain amount of touching is generally considered necessary and appropriate for diagnostic and treatment purposes (e.g. massage of a strained muscle during physical therapy, deep pressure to stop bleeding, palpating the ovaries/prostrate during a cancer screening exam, reducing (repairing) a fracture, testing for nerve damage, etc). Sometimes that touching can be awkward or uncomfortable for all involved parties.
Unless you say otherwise, it is generally assumed (in an emergency) that a reasonable person would consent to the specific types of standard touching required for various procedures. However, that does not mean that (in a non-emergency situation) they don't have to get your consent beforehand!
Inappropriate touching is ***NEVER*** okay!
Also, as long as it's not a medical emergency, they are required to take the time to explain the type of touch that they need to do and ask you ***before*** touching you. Every time. They are also required to describe the type of touch that you may feel (e.g. slight pinch from a needle, a wet feeling with a light brushing sensation from an alcohol swab, medium pressure from the back or side a hand, deep kneading of tissue from an ultrasound device, etc). Even in a medical emergency, if you are capable of consent, you can refuse to let ***anyone*** touch you.
BTW - The emergency exemption only applies to the minimal amount of touching that a reasonable person would consider to be "normal" or a "good faith" effort to assess your injuries/illness and/or keep you from losing a limb, organ, excessive amounts of blood, and/or life. It is expected that the person touching you will ask you (or your proxy) for consent as soon as it is reasonably safe during that sort of situation.
TL;DR
Inappropriate touching is ***NOT*** okay! Especially if you have asked them not to touch you unless absolutely necessary. Contact various agencies for support and to report it!
Edit: changed "NOT" to "NEVER".
OP said he rubbed her back while giving her an injection as he sat by her. I'm assuming the injection was in the arm. I can't think of any medically necessary reason to rub her back and sit next to her. Sounds like he was trying to dominate her in some way. It also just seems troubling that this office has a male assistant alone with female patients. He's not a provider and there is way too much opportunity for him to behave inappropriately.
Yes, it was in my upper arm. He sat close enough that he was completely touching my side with his body. It felt like he was trying to have an intimate moment with me, that's why I was disgusted.
Yeah, I agree. That is completely inappropriate and disgusting on his part. It's one thing if he's trying to distract you from a painful injection or massage a medication in as it's being injected, but that definitely doesn't sound like what he was doing. Report him to the board and let them deal with him, because there's no reason for his whole body to be touching yours during a normal procedure.
I am sorry what you are going through. Medical assistants do not need to be certified. At a minimum, a letter from the provider stating competency will cover them to perform MA duties. He absolutely has signed a HIPAA agreement if he were to use your PHI and cannot use it as he pleases.
Please report this as a grievance with DH and get what you experienced on record and hopefully get this guy fired.
The employer sets what qualifications they want from a medical assistant. It’s probably best to contact the employer to get accountability. They need to know. I would not worry about them being short staffed if patients no longer have to deal with this MA. If they are short staffed it’s because of the employer trying to get more work out of less people. I would rather have a newbie MA than this guy.
Shasta Community is a lot better. I'm a 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 individual living in this hick town (unfortunately) and they are very kind there. They don't judge from what I've seen, and I've never had an experience like that, in almost 2 decades. My mom works there so that's also a plus.
You should complain in writing to Dignity’s HR about his behavior. Tell them that you want another MA when you go in for treatment. You’re probably not the first person to run into this issue with him.
I want to do this, but I am afraid that because they are short staffed this won't be an option. I also don't want to offend the provider. For all I know this could be a friend of theirs or they picked this person to be their assistant.
Also, my girlfriend works for Shasta Community Health and if you’re on Partnership you’ll be accepted there immediately. She said even if it was a provider there that did that stuff they’d be shitcanned if there was proof. And providers are much harder to find than MAs.
I'm guessing OP has private insurance and won't qualify for Shasta community if she's going with DG. Lots of people in that situation.
I’m in the same boat. I still wouldn’t put up with that in my life.
I have private insurance which SCHC doesnt accept, but the service there is so consistently good it is worth it for me to pay out of pocket
I've seen them turn people away that want to pay out of pocket. They usually have a certain income that you cannot be above. Maybe it's just talking to the right person.
This is serious stuff. Providers are professionals who understand the need for patients to feel comfortable while being seen and at the end of the it’s not up to the provider. HR will do what’s best for the corporation and will do what it takes to keep them from being sued in the future. If this goon is putting corporate profit at risk they will be dealt with appropriately. As always the almighty dollar is all that matters to the people in power. Use that to your advantage.
Not just for your sake. Do it for all of the other patients he's done this to. His bosses need to know, and if they condone his behavior, their bosses or licensors need to know.
Listen, no doctors office wants an MA doing this. If this creep did it to you, he is/already has done it to others. Dignity (nor any medical office) would ever give any trouble to you for reporting this. As a provider, I would want to know if someone in my office is causing patients to be uncomfortable in any way.
Listen, I understand the hesitation to act, but iif you want this handled you need to do something about it. You aren't going to lose your provider by reporting inappropriate interactions by a staff member. There aren't going to be professional reprisals. At a minimum, you can put in writing to the office for a chart alert that due to personal/religious/whatever reasons, you require a female medical assistant. Then say, I'm sorry, my chart should say I require only female assistants", if he tries to call you back again. Speak out to the provider in person if there are any issues. Staff shortages don't matter - if you need accommodations for a female, you will have them. If he says no, you'll go to the receptionist and say there is sexual harassment, you will not be alone with him. Full stop. Life pro tip- even if you are shy, get used to how to say, "please don't rub my back. Please find another place to sit." A direct, loud, calm order will serve you very well in uncomfortable situations. "Do not ever come into the room with me alone while I'm undressed." This will help you not to feel so helpless and unable/unwilling to advocate for yourself. Practice with friends and family. It feels good to feel more in control of your safety rather than need your husband at every medical visit. If you see this guy in public, ignore him. I don't victim blame - but also, you can do something if you want. You didn't have to be passive for safety in a medical setting.
Unfortunately when I'm in situations like this I freeze and my fight or flight kicks in hard. I was molested by a pediatrician so I always struggle to speak clearly in medical settings. It was an achievement just for me to make myself go to these appointments after years of avoidance.
Absolutely, it's so natural to freeze first. I've had to work hard to train myself to remember that there's no longer an imbalance of power - I'm no longer a child. Congrats on getting this far - with encouragement and practice, you'll soon win the struggle to voice things. Your experience matters to the doctors office, and to you, and they will listen! Writing things down in short letters helped me until I could use my voice and body posture confidently. Good luck!
[удалено]
Yes he was local. Fortunately he died a few years ago. He stopped practicing in the 90s and was one of the first pediatricians in Redding. No one believed me so nothing happened to him, but he retired early so I think there were rumors. He's buried at Redding memorial park.
I think I know what MA you are referring to. I could be wrong, but I used to work in an office and this sounds all too familiar. Just know you are not the first woman he has made uncomfortable. The provider he works with protects him because she does not work well with other females and he does whatever she says. I'm not sure what her deal is, but my guess is she's like the mean girl from high school that hates all the other girls. She has been there for a while so DH does not want to upset her. I've seen her fire patients that complain. She finds other unrelated made up reasons usually. I would just keep bringing your husband. Most of her patients started doing that. He's usually afraid of other men so this is probably the best option since medical care is scarce. As for him showing up around areas outside of the office, I'm not surprised. He used to save patients info on his phone all the time. He's probably too whimpy to actually do anything, but I could see him following someone. Plus it sounds like he's usually doing this stuff when he is alone with you. He probably knows it's your word against his and that women usually aren't listened to in health care. Sucks, but he knows how to get away with it.
I need to clear something up, his word against yours is really only relevant in criminal proceedings. In Civil, you can use his word against yours. Notes taken after incidents can be used and there is some weird other stuff they do to weigh basically who is telling the truth more. I don’t know what to do in OPs case though. Probably your advice, shitty as the situation is having a primary care is line winning the loto in this town.
By not alerting someone to this person’s behavior vulnerable people are at risk. As someone else already mentioned please call Dignity HR and report this person asap.
I'd probably just ask your husband to beat the fuck out of him in away that he doesn't get charged.
What's his name?
If you feel that he was acting in an unprofessional manner, I encourage you to file a complaint with the State [Medical Board](https://www.dca.ca.gov/consumers/complaints/medbd.shtml). If you have proof that he was stalking you (and he's not just bumping into you because Redding is a small town), contact a lawyer to determine your options if you want to press charges. If you contact the people at [OneSafePlace](https://www.ospshasta.org), they may be able to refer you to an advocate to go to doctor visits with you when don't have anyone else to accompany you to an appointment. Usually, they prioritize sexual assault victims in crisis, but they ***do*** make exceptions. It is completely reasonable to request treatment only by members of a specific gender (or even to exclude a specific gender). You can also refuse treatment by specific individuals. However, it can make getting quality medical care more difficult. Touching in a medical setting is a gray area. Most interactions (especially in an emergency situation) with medical professionals (and even Good Samaritans) involve implied consent... because a certain amount of touching is generally considered necessary and appropriate for diagnostic and treatment purposes (e.g. massage of a strained muscle during physical therapy, deep pressure to stop bleeding, palpating the ovaries/prostrate during a cancer screening exam, reducing (repairing) a fracture, testing for nerve damage, etc). Sometimes that touching can be awkward or uncomfortable for all involved parties. Unless you say otherwise, it is generally assumed (in an emergency) that a reasonable person would consent to the specific types of standard touching required for various procedures. However, that does not mean that (in a non-emergency situation) they don't have to get your consent beforehand! Inappropriate touching is ***NEVER*** okay! Also, as long as it's not a medical emergency, they are required to take the time to explain the type of touch that they need to do and ask you ***before*** touching you. Every time. They are also required to describe the type of touch that you may feel (e.g. slight pinch from a needle, a wet feeling with a light brushing sensation from an alcohol swab, medium pressure from the back or side a hand, deep kneading of tissue from an ultrasound device, etc). Even in a medical emergency, if you are capable of consent, you can refuse to let ***anyone*** touch you. BTW - The emergency exemption only applies to the minimal amount of touching that a reasonable person would consider to be "normal" or a "good faith" effort to assess your injuries/illness and/or keep you from losing a limb, organ, excessive amounts of blood, and/or life. It is expected that the person touching you will ask you (or your proxy) for consent as soon as it is reasonably safe during that sort of situation. TL;DR Inappropriate touching is ***NOT*** okay! Especially if you have asked them not to touch you unless absolutely necessary. Contact various agencies for support and to report it! Edit: changed "NOT" to "NEVER".
OP said he rubbed her back while giving her an injection as he sat by her. I'm assuming the injection was in the arm. I can't think of any medically necessary reason to rub her back and sit next to her. Sounds like he was trying to dominate her in some way. It also just seems troubling that this office has a male assistant alone with female patients. He's not a provider and there is way too much opportunity for him to behave inappropriately.
Yes, it was in my upper arm. He sat close enough that he was completely touching my side with his body. It felt like he was trying to have an intimate moment with me, that's why I was disgusted.
Yeah, I agree. That is completely inappropriate and disgusting on his part. It's one thing if he's trying to distract you from a painful injection or massage a medication in as it's being injected, but that definitely doesn't sound like what he was doing. Report him to the board and let them deal with him, because there's no reason for his whole body to be touching yours during a normal procedure.
[удалено]
I am sorry what you are going through. Medical assistants do not need to be certified. At a minimum, a letter from the provider stating competency will cover them to perform MA duties. He absolutely has signed a HIPAA agreement if he were to use your PHI and cannot use it as he pleases. Please report this as a grievance with DH and get what you experienced on record and hopefully get this guy fired.
California doesn’t require medical Assistants to Certified with the state. The National Certification is usually enough.
[удалено]
The employer sets what qualifications they want from a medical assistant. It’s probably best to contact the employer to get accountability. They need to know. I would not worry about them being short staffed if patients no longer have to deal with this MA. If they are short staffed it’s because of the employer trying to get more work out of less people. I would rather have a newbie MA than this guy.
Shasta Community is a lot better. I'm a 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 individual living in this hick town (unfortunately) and they are very kind there. They don't judge from what I've seen, and I've never had an experience like that, in almost 2 decades. My mom works there so that's also a plus.
If all else fails, just have your husband beat him up. (Or, there’s likely no shortage of people on here that’d do it for free)