Posted: 3/13/2003 11:27:35 AM EDT
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What the hell is this all about? Some of the guys at work are saying that we cant even talk about calls we had even if we dont use names or addresses! I have been reading through what I could find on this on the Federal Register, and havent been able to find anything pertaining to EMS. Anyone know what this is all about? |
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HIPAA (Health Insurance Porrtability and Availability Act) is administered by the CMS (Centers for Meddicare and Medicaid Services) The CMS website is found at: http://cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/ Off-hand, I don't know if HIPAA applies to EMS, but it does apply to most areas of health care. |
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Just had our HIPAA class here at the Dept. (never knew Jim Page of JEMS was a lawyer...oh well) Here's our version...obviously subject to change You can talk about calls in house, to other personnel, but not if there are outside agencies (non-medical) present...and you should avoid the use of names or "other individually indentifiable information" (ie SSN's & addresses) during such discussions. You can tell the ER/ESD what you have, what the pt. has, and what you saw and did on scene and in route. Don't shout "HEY, JOE BLOW HAD AIDS...BETTER PUT YER GLOVES ON!" across an open ER (duh)[whacko]. When you call the ER/ESD with your pt info, use the most secure means you have available (cell vs. radio), and avoid using names and addresses on the air(I was told that in my EMT-A class back in the paleolithic era!) The biggest problem is gonna be sharing "confidential" information with PD. Supposedly they can't come over and even get a name & address from you, much less see a run sheet...it's all supposed to be by subpoena now. OF COURSE, if they happen to be in the ambulance when the pt. admits DUI, well... (Our cops have been pretty cool - they know that what the pt tells us is inadmissible for prosecution (pt-provider confidentiality), but not even being able to give basic info is gonna suck.) You can give info if the cops were actively performing first responder activities on scene, so, tell the cops to show up with a band-aid or something [;)]! BTW - don't leave your run sheets out in the open for everybody to see. So far, the biggest PITA is going to be providing the "patient rights and privacy statements" to all of our pts - even AMA's. More unfunded gov't BS mandates... |