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View Full Version : Hipaa law violations by fire departments


montclairfire
Aug 25, 2010, 08:42 PM
I work for a fire department as a PARAMEDIC, can a captain of mine go through an ENS run form and contact a patient of mine , if he wasn't on scene of the call in the first place?

sideoutshu
Aug 26, 2010, 06:48 AM
Why would that be a HIPPA violation? When a patient receives treatement from an entity, it is contemplated that others within that entity will view their records. As long as the captain is using the information for a purpose realted to the business I don't see it as a problem.

Why are you asking? Do you want him to stop?

J_9
Aug 26, 2010, 06:55 AM
I also wonder why you are asking.

We frequently call patients after discharge to make sure they are doing okay and if they were pleased with their stay.

Why did he contact the patient?

this8384
Aug 26, 2010, 09:22 AM
I work for a fire department as a PARAMEDIC, can a captain of mine go through an ENS run form and contact a patient of mine , if he wasnt on scene of the call in the first place?

This is not a HIPAA violation - that would be if your doctor called your captain and said, "Montclairfire has hepatitis B."

Is there a reason you don't want him contacting the patient?