Medical people, why was there a massive children's star sticker on my medical file?

[FreeChurro]

I've been hibernating from posting on MN for a good while and just enjoying reading but I can't find answers anywhere so am turning to MN.

I have hospital appointments due to a condition but yesterday I noticed just inside the cover of my notes was a big gold smiley star on a red background just like the stickers I would give out in school but bigger. It was placed right in the centre and was quite obviously there for a reason. Now I'm worried that it means I'm some sort of difficult patient or a hypochondriac (both of which I actively try not to be).

I am aware of how silly this sounds and how mundane it is but it's really annoying me. It's also because the geeky side of me likes to know different systems of identification and recognition codes.

If I'm an annoying patient, I can take the criticism (I hope).

When we still had handwritten notes an annoyed HCP wrote ‘needs extra long speculum’ across the front of mine.

I think I would have to ask at my next appointment what the sticker meant, the curiosity would overcome me.

I'm a healthcare professional who writes tonnes of notes. No one would dare write that a patient was difficult - you'd get into SO much trouble!

Same here @bumpyknuckles, it's definitely highly unlikely. Though I have seen some poorly written notes that could be misinterpreted as being negative about the person... not very professional and shouldn't happen, but creating a whole secret code using stickers to say something negative is on a whole other level!

I would ask I’m sure it’s nothing bad though. Hcp have to write facts and aren’t allowed to state personal views.

@autumnboys

When we still had handwritten notes an annoyed HCP wrote ‘needs extra long speculum’ across the front of mine.

I think I would have to ask at my next appointment what the sticker meant, the curiosity would overcome me.

More than likely lost in the mists of time. It will have been a one-time only thing (same name during an admission, notes kept to one side for an audit, or something). So unlikely the next person you see will have a clue.

Definitely not a universal secret sticker code!