HIPAA Strikes Again!

I just found out this morning that a good friend is going in for surgery to remove a blood clot from his chest caused by a fall from a horse. Of course, horseback riding is an insane activity which I stopped as soon as I left the family farm, but never mind that. Worried, I immediately called the office of his surgeon to ask how I could contact his wife at the hospital. Ha! I ran smack into the new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. "Sorry, sir, we can't even tell you if he's in the hospital or not," explained the surgeon's assistant.

So if you're going into the hospital for any reason and would like your friends to contact or come visit you, take your cellphone. Once again, thank you Uncle Sam for your "help."