Although I suspect that state law may have some bearing on what you can and can’t do, I would not call this employee. This isa personal issue and you shouldn’t contact her PCP without the employee’s written permission and at her request. HIPAA rules prevent the PCP from speaking to you and in most places, employment law could be such that you shouldn’t call her either.

The manager should not be deciding “fit for duty’. That is for Employee Health based on well-defined policies and processes.

Deb

Deborah A. Sampson, PhD, APRN, COHN-S, FAANP

Director

Employee Health and Wellness Services

Southern New Hampshire Health   P.O.Box 2014   8 Prospect Street   Nashua, NH 03060

p(603) 281-8583  f (603) 577-5665

deborah.sampson@snhhealth.org

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net] On Behalf Of Mora, Jennifer
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 1:55 PM
To: mcoh-eh@mylist.net
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Employee mental health record

Hi,

I recently had a situation in which I was asked to get authorization from an employee to speak to her primary MD in regards to her mental health.  She had reported to her manager that she was having trouble with anxiety and had recently had some medication changes that resulted in her inability to function fully at work.  She was sent home by the manager because she was not fit for duty.    The manager requested that I follow up with her primary MD to get more information on when she would be fit to return to work.   Do you use a special authorization form to get authorization from the employee?  Or do you use a general release of information for the employee to give authorization to speak to their MD?

Thank you for your time,

Jen

Jennifer Mora MSN, RN

Business Health and Wellness Coordinator

Stoughton Hospital

900 Ridge Street

Stoughton, WI 53589

Office 608-873-2204

Cell      608-235-4239

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