Medical Reports

18 publicaciones
Missing user
marzo 8, 2013

Hi, I called today to see if I could get a medical report for my sponsored children like we have in the past and the staff member said that they no longer provide this to sponsors, unless the family signs off on this. Is there any more information about this? How are families contacted to see if they can sign off on it? Thanks!

debbies
marzo 8, 2013

Hi Shana - As you know many guidelines have changed with regard to the information we can request and share with sponsors due to the changing (or the initiation of) privacy laws in the countries where we work.

One of the changes for all countries is that we must now have the family's permission to share any health information. If we do not have a signed Health Authorization Form (HAF)on file we cannot share any health info we receive from the SOA.

Each child 12 and younger gets an annual medical check-up (teenagers are not required to have annual check-ups, but can see the dr. whenever needed), and the staff updates the computer system to list the date of exam, height, weight and any important health conditions (they don't list colds, flu, etc.).

If a medical condition is diagnosed the SOA will sent a report to CIKC and IF there is a HAF sent with it or one already on file we contact the sponsor - if there is not an HAF we cannot share the info.

Since we have the info on file in our KC office we limit memos asking for Health Report, since the large majority come back as saying the child is healthy.

If the medical check-up is more than 6 months old, the child is then be required to come in again and have another check-up, which is not always welcome by the families, because as we all know going to the doctor is probably one of the most time consuming things we can do.

The parents and children do not appreciate having to HAVE more than one medical check-up a year (when they are enrolled the family is told only 1 per year up to age 12), so if a memo for a HR is requested and the child had their annual check-up within the past 6 months the staff does not require the child to see the dr. again, they simply regurgitate the info from the last check-up.

To keep the children and families happy and the reduce our admin costs, unless the child has an obvious medical condition we are trying to eliminate memos for HR trusting the reporting system in place to work.

I can tell you that Maria, Andrea, Yiseth, Leonardo and Bleidys all has their annual check-ups within the past 3 months and are all healthy.

Nelson is due for his annual in April

Patricio and Ma. Luisa's annuals are due in May

debbies
marzo 8, 2013

Oops, I forgot to mention that the families are not asked to sign HAF until a medical condition is diagnosed and the info would be sent to CIKC.

Missing user
marzo 8, 2013

Okay, thank you, Debbie. I appreciate you taking the time to explain everything and thank you for finding out how my children are doing. My mind is a little more at ease now. Do you have any information about Francisco? Thank you and God bless.

debbies
marzo 11, 2013

Shana: I got your msg too, and replied

Missing user
julio 30, 2013

Debbie - sorry to resurrect this old thread, but I wanted to check iI had understood the new system.

It sounds like IF a medical condition is diagnosed and IF the disclosure form has been signed then CI would proactively alert the sponsor about it.

That being the case, and not having been contacted, then I can assume that there are either no health problems with my kids, or that the family do not want me to know about it if there is.

Is that right? Or should I ask CI if there is anything on file that they can tell me?

Cheers

Ian

debbies
julio 30, 2013

Yes, you are correct. If a medical condition is diagnosed either in the child or parent and a HAF is sent to CIKC we will send a letter to the sponsor to inform them of the condition.

If we receive the report without a HAF we will request one from the agency just to make sure it was not overlooked.

If it is a death of a child/parent, a case of abuse, or something regarding the parent (prostitute, alcoholic, on drugs, etc.) we must also have a HAF to share the info.

We generally receive a HAF for medical problems, but usually don't receive one if the parent has issues or in cases of abuse - parents are too embarrassed or private to share the info.

Missing user
julio 30, 2013

Thanks!

Missing user
marzo 6, 2016 en respuesta a debbies
I discovered this interesting old thread from 2013 and have a question mainly for CI. The father of one of my children is marked as "unable to work" (until last week it said "too ill to work") in the family report. Last ​spring I asked CI to look into this and in June received a report saying that he had been hospitalized due to a chronic condition. No details were given on the nature of the illness. Is this CI's standard practice or would it be because the family didn't want to share the information? More generally, what is CI's policy nowadays regarding the information provided to sponsors on the children's and their families' health? I'd also like to know the difference between "too ill to work" and "unable to work", if there is any. Thanks!
Missing user
marzo 6, 2016 en respuesta a Missing user
This is a complete guess, but if there is a difference between too ill to work and unable to work, to me that means some type of resolution to an illness. Perhaps a long battle with an infection that has since cleared but made it difficult to walk or something so work isn't possible. Again, complete guess. I'm interested to know CIs thoughts.
debbies
marzo 7, 2016 en respuesta a Missing user
Our policies regarding what we are legally able to share with sponsors regarding a child or family members health has not changed. We are only able to share whatever information the family gives us permission to share. Of course, it goes without saying that if medical information is shared with the sponsor, it should never be shared in a social media forum, the families are only giving permission to share the info with the sponsor.

Since we are not able to share health information for the children or their families, we had to remove the "too ill to work" option from the FR's, and change it to "unable to work."    

Hope this helps clarify!

Missing user
marzo 7, 2016 en respuesta a debbies
Thanks, Debbie. I was curious about the change of terminology, but now see that the meaning is the same. I left out the name of the child in question to protect the family's privacy, but please feel free to delete my query if you feel that's necessary.
debbies
marzo 8, 2016 en respuesta a Missing user
No need to delete it, only you and I know which child we are referring too :-)   And, the info I shared could easily apply to any number of children.  
Missing user
marzo 8, 2016
debbies, your comments about the HAF thing back from 2013... I just saw them. I was wondering if this means my sponsored child, didn't really receive a health check when I asked all those months ago? I was/am worried about her eyesight. I was told she was checked and it's perfect and she's healthy, but her eyes do not look right and her latest photos make me wonder again even more (and there's an eye chart in the photos).
debbies
marzo 9, 2016 en respuesta a Missing user
hi esmart, I had to edit your post to remove the child's name :-).  And, since we really can't discuss the child's health in a public forum, I'm sending you a private message.  Look for it soon. 
debbies
marzo 9, 2016
And to everyone, just in case you were wondering Children International's middle name is Transparency!  We would never be untruthful about any aspect of our organization, and especially not the children. We will always share as much info as we legally can about the children.
Missing user
marzo 9, 2016
Thank you debbies!
debbies
marzo 9, 2016 en respuesta a Missing user
You are welcome!
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