DH is a pharmacist. He says that no records are shared between pharmacies that are not in the same company. The large chain wouldn’t have access to what is at the independent, and vice versa. The exception is the national narcotic database which all pharmacies would potentially check before filling a narcotic prescription.
There are some scenarios in which information could be shared. For instance, if you asked to have a prescription transferred between pharmacies. But it’s unlikely anything would be shared unless necessary in the course of business.
He also says a doctors office calling in a prescription would be highly unlikely to volunteer any information about a persons medications other than the medication being called in.
@Parentof2014grad: Thank you!
@austinmshauri…because my current pharmacist is on a month long medical humanitarian trip in India.
@TiggerDad said:
Accessing private health information of person on a NOT need to know basis is a HIPAA violation, whether or not you share that information.
For example, let’s say I see TiggerDad walking into the hospital where I work one morning. Let’s further muddy the waters and say that in the past, I have taken care of TiggerDad and had access to all of his relevant records while in his hospital stay. This morning, if I proceed to use my ability to access charts at my hospital in order to see what the scoop is on TiggerDad being there, but I tell no one, I have still violated HIPAA, because he is not my patient. Just because I can access it does not mean I am legally entitled to do so.
Lucky for TiggerDad, my little computer foray into his records would be flagged, and I would be found out and fired. I’d still know his private health information, though.
He would not have access directly to your records at the other pharmacy but if he fills something that has an interaction or is similar to something that your insurance might flag as a duplicate, etc , he’d get a message saying something to that effect. He wouldn’t necessarily know the exact drug though or where it was filled . Outside of the same chain, the state narcotic website or the insurance situation above - there is no access to any other pharmacy records.
Sounds like @scubasue is okay, since the two pharmacies are not in the same chain and she is not receiving controlled subtances at the independent pharmacy.
If it’s the same pharmacy network he has access, but it would be a bad choice by him to access it. I am a chaplain at a hospital. It is possible for me to open any present or past patient’s chart, including my own. And most likely anyone treated on an outpatient basis in the hospital network - no reason for me to know for sure. But it would be a hippa violation and cause for immediate termination if I opened one I have no valid reason to read.
@KKarma…he’s a pharmacist…wouldn’t it be his responsibility to access it?
Yes but only in the course of filling your Rx. He can’t just decide to look your records up on a whim. But most of us don’t have time to think about anyone’s profile except the patients that we’ re currently working on, and we all are more than aware of patient privacy and HIPPA rules.
I don’t correct regular typos, but I do correct this because it should be noted correctly- because it’s an important acronym:
It’s HIPAA, not HIPPA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Funny - it auto corrected to that and I didn’t think twice about it
@scubasue, if your nephew has no reason to access your records i.e. he is not the one refilling your prescription, he would be in violation of company policy if he did so as well as HIPAA laws. A healthcare worker cannot “surf” for information. He must have a legitimate reason to access your account/records.
If he works for a different company altogether, he cannot access other chains/stores records except for the narcotic database. (and you said it wasn’t this).
FWIW from a retired pharmacist, although not a retail one.
I am a hospital pharmacist-retired but now working perdiem at 2 hospitals. VaBlueBird is correct. FYI Every place I’ve worked for does random audits to verify staff only access files necessary to do their job. I would let pharmacist at both pharmacies know your wishes. If I understand correctly, you trust a pharmacist where your nephew works enough to discuss for drug interactions - share that the information is not to be shared or documented where nephew would see. State board should discipline nephew if he doesn’t find follow law.
@taskmstrx…I thought Pharmacists were supposed to check all the other meds you are on to make sure there are no dangerous interactions. I’m asking seriously…is that just all done by computer?
Iamom…Thank you! The pharmacy where my nephew works has two full time pharmacists. For all intents and purposes…my nephew…whom I absolutely trust 100% with plenty of evidence I won’t go into here…WOULD be my pharmacist, which is what I want. I want him to check the records of all the drugs I’d be getting filled at his pharmacy. He is a rule follower, not nosy, wouldn’t look just out of curiosity, and would NEVER disclose anything to another relative. I would want to discuss my meds with him to the extent possible without him knowing about the meds I am getting filled at Big Chain Pharmacy. Big Chain Pharmacy (in another small town) also only has a couple of pharmacists,one of whom I know would be happy to verify that any new meds (that nephew filled) were safe with my top-secret 
prescriptions (which, hopefully, the dr. would be first to check/verify).
I think I’m good. If the only drugs in a prescription network are narcotics, I don’t have anything to worry about and, if I ever do need those, I’d get them from dear nephew anyway.
Dear Scrubasue, I’m so happy to know your nephew is what a pharmacist should be.
@lamom Did I mention academically brilliant, Type A personality, kind and patient? I am glad to know that I can comfortably become one of his patients for all those reasons an more.
Thanks again for your help.