The HIPAApotamus in the Room

After fourteen years in the business, I know very well that not everyone manages day care the same way I do.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, there are many good people working as day care providers. I've learned from some incredible ones.

We're all different, but most of us are compassionate, engaged with the children we serve, cognizant of the fact that every single thing we say to the kids affects them, and act accordingly.

But if I were just starting in this line of work and the facility I've been spending my summer in was the place I started, I doubt like hell I'd have stayed with it.

The latest in a long sequence of stupid?

Remember Jerry?
Jerry takes medication.
Doesn't matter what the medication is for. It's sort of between Jerry and his parent(s) and the doctor.

On Monday while everyone was seated at the tables for lunch, Shanae, one of the bubbleheaded bimbettes SHOUTED across that end of the room to Bill, the young teen assistant, "HEY! Did Jerry's dad give us his meds??"

In front of all the children. Jerry included.
Bill snorted derisively and answered with the same top volume, shouting over the heads of the kids. "Yeah, he brought in a baggie or something with like five pills in it. One for every day this week."

"Well where is it?"

He wasn't sure. So they started looking on shelves and in (unlocked) cabinets. Shanae walked to the door and said, even louder because Bill was waaaaay down at the other end of the huge room, "I'm going to go see if Candice has Jerry's MEDS!!"

Every child in the room heard them discussing Jerry's private information.

Worst part? He's so accustomed to the lack of respect that he didn't even look embarrassed.

Yes, it's disrespectful. And it's also ILLEGAL. No one else should know about Jerry's medication, where or how or when it's dispensed. The staff should know better. Yeah, I understand that they're young and inexperienced. But good grief.

There's more. About Jerry and a couple other higher maintenance kids.

I'm going to go talk to Candice (again) and see what she has to say. It may or may not be 'just' a training issue, but I will speak up and I will stand up for kids. Especially those who have no idea how to do that for themselves.

I'll let you know how that turns out and a few more details next time I manage to sit down and write.

I can't WAIT for this summer to be over.
Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.