Washington's Birthday 2008

Friday, Feb. 22, 2008 - 12:52 a.m.

Well.

I received a response from somebody at California Overnight:

Hello Brin-Marie,

I understand the driver indicated this package was left at the front door of your residence when in fact it wasn't and left near an unsecured area. This has been addressed with the driver's supervisor to prevent issues like this happening in the future. I also understand you're not pleased with the driver not obtaining a signature when delivered. This was actually sent out as a "No Signature Required" package, which allows the driver to leave it. This doesn't justify the driver indicating the package being left where it wasn't, but it wasn't required that the driver get a signature upon delivery.

I do apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused you. If you have further questions and/or concerns, please let us know.

Thank You,

[Signature]
[Contact info]

To which I crafted the following response:

Dear [Signature],

Thank you for your prompt response, and for continuing to attempt to educate your delivery people as to the difference between a locked security gate versus the front door of a residence. I appreciate your efforts.

Upon reading your website, I do indeed see where there is a delivery option offered by your company where a signature is not required.

However, you've missed an important point here, specifically, your 'no signature required' policy is in direct violation of federal law whenever you are delivering medical supplies to somebody.

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/enforcement/

Please have a look at the above website and refer to the section marked 'Case Examples', and see the terms "Impermissible Uses & Disclosures" and "Lack of Safeguards". These both appear to describe the types of federal violations which are occuring under your current delivery policies.

My medical privacy was violated the instant my medical supplies were left in an unsecure area.

I'd like to strongly urge you to change your delivery options policy so that there is a mandatory requirement of a written signature from recipients of medical supplies, and to also suggest that you immediately cease offering the 'no signature required' option to medical companies / pharmacies when they are sending meds to individuals.

Thank you for your time in this matter.

Very truly,

Brin-Marie McLaughlin

So we'll see what happens.

Personally, I'm not in the mood to strongarm anybody right now, despite the fact that my medical privacy was violated on a federal level not once but twice by this company, but the 'no signature required' thing really worries me.

Doorbell Ditch is a very careless and So Far Beyond Stupid That Stupid Can't Even See It With The Hubble thing to do when medical supplies are concerned.

What if the delivery had been of syringes? And what if some kids got ahold of them?

For the record, all I had delivered was colostomy bags, which might pass as party decorations or stupid things to put on a locker at school... but... what if?, you know?

Special kudos to John for sitting up past his bedtime to help me write the email, and to the author of Janet's Planet for the spark in the form of a note that helped me to compose something scary enough to HOPEFULLY get the delivery company's attention.

You rock!!!

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That's it for now; I may go sneak a peek at Friday Five tomorrow, but we'll see.

I'll keep you all informed re: The result of my email to the delivery company.

Have a good Friday, kids.

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