This post was written during the Coronavirus pandemic, primarily because we’ve received several calls from people looking for their loved ones. Typically, missing people end up in a hospital for several reasons – from injuries sustained while on the streets, mental health issues, or being transported to the hospital after an arrest.
The Coronavirus crisis created a new type of case for private investigators. We’ve received calls from concerned family members who believe their loved one is in a hospital but can’t communicate out to them. We’ve received calls from people who said that their elderly parents don’t have social media accounts, and they’ve been unable to reach their loved ones at home / have not reached out in a while, and they want us to conduct a welfare check on their behalf – in other words, because of the tight restrictions on travel, children, parents, and relatives are limited on how they can communicate.
If you’re wanting our team to conduct a welfare check on your loved ones, we can help. If you suspect your loved one may be in a hospital, but you’re unable to track them done, we’re going to give you some information on how you can track them down on your own. If you’re still unable to locate them, our team can work with you on how to track down a missing person or loved one in Georgia.
Let’s start with the information that you’ll need:
- You’re going to need their personal information. This includes their full legal name, and their date of birth.
- Because medical information is private, you’ll need as much information as possible about your loved one – known address, social security *not always*, spouse name, phone number, etc. In other words, you need to prove to the person on the phone that you are a real family member.
- Possible pictures of your loved ones or a detailed description – in case your loved one is in a hospital as a Jane or John Doe.
Before we get too far ahead: “John Doe” and “Jane Doe” are multiple-use names that are used when the true name of a person is unknown or is being intentionally concealed.
Now that you have some of this information, you need to start the search. At this current time, hospitals are under intense pressure, so you need to understand that this process will NOT be a call and done. There will be long delays, long hold times, and you’ll be passed around between several members of the hospital administration.
The first thing you need to do is locate the possible hospitals around your loved ones. Jot down their contact information. You want to write down every Emergency Room and Hospital within a 20 mile radius of their last known location. Most urgent care clinics do not hold people overnight, so you can pass on those medical locations.
Once you have your hospitals in place, start calling down the list. For the most part, every hospital is going to have an admission point of contact. They’ll be the ones who know whether your relative was admitted into the hospital or not. If they don’t have an admissions person, try speak to the hospital customer service team member, they’ll point you in the right direction.
Ask to see if the hospital has received any Jane or John does in the last XYZ Time range. Give them your information, and give them a description of the person you’re looking for. They may ask for you to email them a photo of your Jane or John Doe – send them anything you have.
Keep in mind, in the United States, we have strict HIPPA laws that make it difficult for you to get information on a patient. That’s why you need to have as much information as possible on your missing person – it’s a lot easier for a hospital to verify if your love done is in the hospital, when you are a relative.
If this doesn’t work, contact the local police department to see if they’ve received any calls to a particular home address (if they have an address), or if they’ve picked up and transported anyone to the hospital that meets your missing person.
Lastly, if you can always contact a private investigator – We are Atlanta Private Investigators, but we work across Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. We can help conduct an alive and wellness check on your loved one.
Private investigators are extensions that you can hire to deliver a message, letters, information, documents, etc. We’re here to assist you when all else fails. Request a free confidential consultation to see how we can help.
