Naples physician assistant mocked ER patients, leaked records, Instagram screenshots show
Local health officials are probing screenshots that appear to show a local physician assistant shared, on several occasions, confidential information related to at least three patients, as well as shaming patients for their health claims.
The photos indicate that Annalee Knowles, of Naples, a physician assistant at NCH, has shared patients' information to her Instagram story. She has been removed from her shifts at NCH, officials say. The last social media update was dated Oct. 2.
Her account has since been closed.
Records indicate that Knowles, whose age couldn't be verified, specialized in kidney care and has been a physician assistant since at least 2014. A physician assistant conducts physical exams; diagnoses and treats illnesses; and orders and interprets tests.
Documents shared with this news organization show at least three Instagram stories, which remain active for 24 hours.
At least one post refers to race, others mock the reasons patients went to the hospital in a handwritten Bingo square format: Diarrhea, can't poop; ABD (abdominal pain) asking to eat; Asking 4 Dilaudid. The post had the comment: Tell me you work in the ER without telling me you work in the ER.
The latest, posted Monday, shows a photograph of a patient's emergency-room note that reads, "CT findings discussed with patient. He denies anal sex or other anal trauma. States 'nah I'm straight I got kids and [redacted].'"
The photo included the date and time of the incident, with the comment: convincing enough for me I guess.
Another posting, dated Sept. 20, include a mirror selfie tagging NCH Healthcare Northeast that reads, "I have been at work for 1 hour and multiple patients have questioned my age and therefore seem skeptical at my ability to do my job... it's definitely the braids."
"Recently, a provider made inappropriate comments on social media about their clinical practice," Rebecca Delgado, a spokesperson at NCH, wrote in a statement.
Delgado said the provider is employed by a third-party medical group that is not owned or controlled by NCH.
"We are working closely with the provider's employer to investigate the matter," Delgado wrote. "It is important to note no patient health information was posted; patient confidentiality and privacy were not compromised."
TeamHealth, the contract company for physicians and staff, said they were first made aware of Knowles' posts Tuesday.
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"Her posts do not reflect the values of TeamHealth nor the high quality care we provide to patients and the communities we serve," Josh Hopson, spokesperson for TeamHealth, wrote in a statement. "We took decisive action to immediately investigate her posts and have removed her from future scheduled shifts."
The Daily News couldn't reach Knowles for comment.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples PA leaked ER patient records on Instagram, screenshots show
