HIPPA and Discussing Calls

[Guest guest]

Since these rules are in effect TODAY I certainly hope folks are careful what

they say or do. The media will really be disappointed, but allot of patients,

and patients families will finally not have to worry about the whole town

knowing when they go for medical treatment of any kind including the on coming

crew. It's not their business. I hope TDH is up on the rules. Any violation of

federal law should effect certifications/license personnel, dispatchers, EMS

providers, pictures in the class room, telling war stories, and it's an endless

list. We have been preparing for 3 years for these rules. I hope others haven't

tried to ignore them.

Comments?

Ron

HIPPA and Discussing Calls

Okay, I read the " notice " about HIPPA and patient confidentiality, but I

have to disagree with the " discussing calls " aspect, where it infers that

crews returning to a station and " decompressing " by discussing a call are in

fact in violation of HIPPA and potentially liable for a host of infractions.

If the station members also provide care for this individual, especially if

this individual is or becomes a " frequent flyer " , then that information is

legally being shared among persons responsible or involved in his/her care.

If not, it also means that when you're heading to an address you've been to

before, but your partner hasn't, you can't tell him about the prior calls or

the patient presentation on previous contacts. So, you have to sit there

and discuss nothing?

Of course not. This doesn't benefit the patient. Talking to the public is

one thing, and slandering the patient back at the station is another, but

relaying potentially important information about a patient that any one of

several units could get, in my estimation, shouldn't be a HIPPA violation.

Of course, always follow your departments rules and regs regarding patient

data, and your mileage may vary.

Comment?

Mike , LP

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[Guest guest]

In changing your consent for transport and treatment, the wording to satisfy

the HIPAA requirement includes something to the effect of " .....sharing of

information necessary for healthcare operations. " I can't remember the exact

wording, because I'm not looking at the form right now. But our new consent

form includes this language, which was taken directly from the HIPAA text. I

believe that this statement covers follow-up phone calls, CISD-type

discussions, etc.

Everyone should make sure that your patient consent forms include the HIPAA

language. The patient/family no longer signs for just consent to treat and

transport. Now, their signature acknowledges how you keep their information,

and who you share it with. The consent should also contain a statement that

tells the patient that they may review at any time your policy regarding

records and confidentiality. We keep this policy laminated form on the

helicopters now because of HIPAA.

Lance Gutierrez

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lance,

Ron

HIPPA and Discussing Calls

In changing your consent for transport and treatment, the wording to satisfy

the HIPAA requirement includes something to the effect of " .....sharing of

information necessary for healthcare operations. " I can't remember the exact

wording, because I'm not looking at the form right now. But our new consent

form includes this language, which was taken directly from the HIPAA text. I

believe that this statement covers follow-up phone calls, CISD-type

discussions, etc.

Everyone should make sure that your patient consent forms include the HIPAA

language. The patient/family no longer signs for just consent to treat and

transport. Now, their signature acknowledges how you keep their information,

and who you share it with. The consent should also contain a statement that

tells the patient that they may review at any time your policy regarding

records and confidentiality. We keep this policy laminated form on the

helicopters now because of HIPAA.

Lance Gutierrez