Two former employees of Carol Stream, Ill.-based Premier Primary Care Physicians brought a lawsuit seeking overtime wages and alleging retaliatory discharge. In its answer to the complaint, Premier alleged the two employees were terminated for being disruptive while on the job and for being “inappropriate with patients.” The answer further stated “the medical practice received numerous patient complaints” regarding the two employees claiming they were “rude, unhelpful and failed to give reminder calls for appointments,” according to the report.
In response to Premier’s answer to the complaint, the two employees asked for the names and contact information for all of Premier’s patients and a patient schedule, according to the report.
Because Premier claimed the two employees had exhibited unprofessional behavior in a way that impacted patient relationships, the court ordered Premier to provide the names and contact numbers for 25 of its patients, according to the report.
As a result of the ruling in this case, it might be necessary for healthcare providers to begin deciding “between protection of patient privacy interests and mounting a vigorous defense” in employment cases, according to the report.
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