My therapy office does not contact the meds prescribing professional (family physician or psychiatrist or psychologist) with out a signed release of information be it for meds or other purposes.

This state does have mental health continuity of care guidelines where if more that one therapy personnel is involved with the client or family unit that both treating professional have the option of working together. But becasue of the new HIPPA privacy laws all parties must have a signed release of information from the clients on file.

personally I always sign one for my family physician (prescribes any meds that I need be it anitdepressants or for physical problems). This way the treatment plans that I have with both do not conflict causing me more problems or harm.

another situation involving continuity of care is mY son having one therapist and I have another. My sons therapist was the designated therapist for family therapy. The DHS caseworker refused to allow my therapist to participate in the process. when the caseworker breached HIPPA by opening my therapy letter and making copies of it, and distributing it to those on the case I reguested an investigation. One of the things that got her fired was that she was not following the continuity of care guidelines. The present DHS caseworker refused to release information so my therapist and I asked my lawyer for his advise and he went into court and got a court order for therapist contact based on the fact that my son's therapist is incharge of visitation so according to continuity of care guidelines the two needed to be working together. The court order was granted. Even though the court order gave my therapist and my sons therapist contact both sides have to sign those release forms before the two talk. DHS has figured out how to use this to their advantage. Everytime my son is moved he recieves a new therapy team. DHS caseworker does not call me or my therapist to let us know the contact information. His reasoning is that the case coding does not allow him to contact me. Well my lawyer says he can contact my lawyer and/or my therapist for that information. The caseworker is intimidated by my therapist because we got the court order. so we can wait forever on waiting for that phone call so now every other month I meet with my lawyer for an update and if he doesn't have one he contacts the caseworker for the information. So much for DHS not following this states mental health contiuity of care guidelines and a court order. Oh well Im rambling so take care all.