What Can I Legally Share?

[Kiernan]

As a high school graduation project I am keeping a journal of my time spent as an EMT at my station. This includes information about calls I went on. I'm new to EMS and HIPAA and I'm not sure exactly how much info I can legally share with other people. I must include an explanation of HIPAA in my journal so the readers understand why I could not include all the info. Are there any sites that explain HIPAA in easy terms? Thanks and I'm sure you're sick of hearing about HIPAA.

[DaSharkie]

Are there any sites that explain HIPAA in easy terms?

ROTFLMAO :cool: Son, it just cannot be done.

As far as information, no names, addresses, or information that would allow you to make a reasonable gues as to who you are speaking of.

You may include vital signs, injuries, assessments, findings, PMH, meds, etc.

As for HIPAA, I think I would write that it is a federal law regarding the release of personal information and records to anyone not requiring it, insurance companies, physicians, etc., without the permission of the patient or the guardian.

The service I work for has a HIPAA brochure that we give to every patient and it is still a two sided legal paper sized (8 1/2 inches by 17 inches) document that is like reading war and peace.

Like I say, you want something messed up? Just let the Fed get their grubby little mitts into it and there you go.

[Kiernan]

Can I include townships that these calls were in? (Don't know how specific I can get.)

[smurfe]

Can I include townships that these calls were in

Yes, that would not be protested information, just no names, address, birthday, SS# etc, no info that can identify the patient to anyone in any way. Chief complaint, vital signs, findings on exam would be ok. The township the call was in would not be an identifier as long as you didn't place the specific address. Surely your service must have a HIPAA policy in force, Ask your Hipaa officer and read the Info that your are required to give to a patient. It answers most questions

Smurfe :D

[codeblue81]

Steve you beat me to the punch. I was going to say the exact same thing.

Kiernan, if you'd like I can mail you a copy of our HIPAA release form. It's the War and Peace style novel that Sharkie was talking about. It explains the circumstances for which PMH can be disclosed and our policy on releasing information. We also have a Release on the back of our billing report that we have the pt, family, or nursing staff sign and a narrative space to fill out if the pt refuses to sign or is unable to sign. Let me know if you could use it.

code_blue81:D

[Kiernan]

codeblue81,

That would be great!! Please send it to Kiky87@aol.com I appreciate it.