Flashpoint

Privacy When Dispatching EMS Calls

Started by Flashpoint,

21 posts in this topic

Posted (edited)

When you dispatch an EMS call and specify the age, sex, and condition of the patient, and the last name of the residence on the radio all in the same transmission, couldn't that be considered violating the patient's privacy?

Edited by Flashpoint
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Posted

Here is worse yet... Facebook!!!! This screenshot (names anonymized), came right on the heels of a call I ran the other day. Folks in the town I live love to consider it a "small town" and want to know EVERYTHING going on. Many have scanners and love to gossip. This one is particularly bad because a lot posted the persons involved name(s)

Ambulance and fire trucks just raced down Messick. I hope everyone is ok!!

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Posted

Private citizens are in no way obligated to protect patient information. Welcome to the digital age of nosy neighbors.

I never understood putting the last name of the residence in a transmission. But the rest of that information is mission critical, is it not? I'm no lawyer, but it would be hard to argue privacy violations there. If someone really has a problem with that information being put over the air, then I suggest they call a taxi to take them to the hospital...

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Posted

When you dispatch an EMS call and specify the age, sex, and condition of the patient, and the last name of the residence on the radio all in the same transmission, couldn't that be considered violating the patient's privacy?

In the past these things were necessary to getting the ambulance and crew to the scene in a timely manner. The name was all but eliminated when proper 911 mapping and addressing was completed, but once in a while in the hinterlands they still use names for reference points. Until recently most fire and EMS agencies didn't have MDT's and handheld communications devices that were silent. So a case may be made, though again it speaks to the systems the caller is accessing ad their ability to put the patient and help together.

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Until recently most fire and EMS agencies didn't have MDT's and handheld communications devices that were silent.

Westchester County. The most taxed county in the United States only has MDT's in a handful of the 300-400 fire and EMS rigs. Because when it was last suggested, the Advisory boards said it was not needed.

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Posted

Westchester County. The most taxed county in the United States only has MDT's in a handful of the 300-400 fire and EMS rigs. Because when it was last suggested, the Advisory boards said it was not needed.

We don't have any in the municipal fire or EMS units, just the local PD's and private EMS services. That said, the local dispatch center utilizing the I Am Responding system to text calls as an adjunct tool and more sensitive info is typically directed through this or units are asked to call in. We're now looking at tablets for use in a pseudo-MDT manner.

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Posted

Not just the hinterlands. Many apartment buildings have a door buzzer system to get in that requires a last name to get the apartment on the intercom and get the door opened.

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Posted

Not just the hinterlands. Many apartment buildings have a door buzzer system to get in that requires a last name to get the apartment on the intercom and get the door opened.

Just press them all and muffle your voice. Haven't you learned that trick yet?

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Posted

The residence name is sometimes important, although has become less so as street addresses get better.

In the days before every house needed a street address you might have members that know exactly where "Sam Smith's Barn" is or the "Jenkins House" on "Old Route 10". Much of this is a thing of the past although we still have one district in Stamford where addresses like that may still mean something to some members.

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Posted

When you dispatch an EMS call and specify the age, sex, and condition of the patient, and the last name of the residence on the radio all in the same transmission, couldn't that be considered violating the patient's privacy?

Dispatchers are only providing the information received from the calling party. Very often it is not an accurate representation of the patient's condition.

As for the name of home or property owner, that may not identify the patient.

I'm not sure there would be any expectation of privacy under these circumstances nor can I imagine why it would become an issue.

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Posted

Not just the hinterlands. Many apartment buildings have a door buzzer system to get in that requires a last name to get the apartment on the intercom and get the door opened.

Easy way for the FD to solve this. We advised buildings when they went to this that the 1st call we get there was going to be expensive if they did not install a Knox Box.

Then the 1st call you use Battalion Chief Halligan's key and you are in. The next day the building owner either:

a) orders a knox box or

B) calls the FD to complain and is told: "See a above"

If they pick "b" we repeat the process.

No building has repeated this a 3rd time.

Just press them all and muffle your voice. Haven't you learned that trick yet?

That no longer works on many of the new systems. There is a 6 or 7 digit "code" for each apt. or you have to scroll to each name press and wait, before you can select another name. In a big building that could take 10+ minutes.

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Posted

Where can one find information - HIPAA, for example, about disseminating information either on the air or online / in the paper? This is something that has come up at work and at the firehouse at home. Thanks.

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Posted

www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule

By the way, radio communications are specifically exempt from HIPAA

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Posted

Easy way for the FD to solve this. We advised buildings when they went to this that the 1st call we get there was going to be expensive if they did not install a Knox Box.

Then the 1st call you use Battalion Chief Halligan's key and you are in. The next day the building owner either:

a) orders a knox box or

B) calls the FD to complain and is told: "See a above"

If they pick "b" we repeat the process.

No building has repeated this a 3rd time.

That no longer works on many of the new systems. There is a 6 or 7 digit "code" for each apt. or you have to scroll to each name press and wait, before you can select another name. In a big building that could take 10+ minutes.

Not to go off topic but there are two basic types of intercom systems:

Analog: where you have 1 button for each apartment. This is the one where you can press all the buttons in a downward sliding button and someone will usually open the door (old PD trick).

The system you reference is a telephone entry system, This requires a code and when entered, uses a preprogrammed number to contact the tenants’ phone. Often you will find a code to call 911, the police or fire departments in the directory. If you enter that code and the system calls 911, when the operator answers, have them dial 9. That is the most often code used to open the door.

If not then the master key (halligan) may have to be used.

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Posted

www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/administrative/privacyrule

By the way, radio communications are specifically exempt from HIPAA

Does this mean any of us over the air can give names and/or other personal info, such as phone numbers?

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Posted

Does this mean any of us over the air can give names and/or other personal info, such as phone numbers?

Under HIPAA its not an issue, but as a general "safety" issue it may cause problems

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Posted

Does this mean any of us over the air can give names and/or other personal info, such as phone numbers?

I don't know why you'd have to give a phone number over the air.

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Posted

I don't know why you'd have to give a phone number over the air.

Haven't heard that, but I have heard key information (it's hidden under the mat) or other security measures broadcast in an age when we have so many other options. At some point while it may not be part of HIPAA, the privacy of any individual will likely be cause for civil suit given that there are so many reliable options to minimize public broadcasting of information.

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Posted (edited)

Just press them all and muffle your voice. Haven't you learned that trick yet?

Sometimes, when we did not have the exact apartment to ring, or did not want the occupants of a specific apartment knowing we were coming, I would ring them all and if someone asked "who is it?", sometimes I would answer "Burglar" or "Robber". Almost every time, someone would buzz us in.

Quite often, the residents would buzz us in without asking anything.

This even occurred in my plainclothes days and sometimes we were driving rental cars or non-descript vehicles. It was not as if someone heard a buzzer, looked outside, saw uniformed cops and a marked Crown Vic and figured it was OK to let them in.

I have seen this even in some of the better buildings in some of the more upscale areas.

Gaining entry to an apartment building is usually not one of the harder things to accomplish.

Edited by 10512
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Posted

In Nova Scotia the EHS NS dispatch centre sends the information directly to a Panasonic tablet in the Ambulance. The only info sent over the air is the initial call identifying the ambulance and the address they are going to.

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Posted

Westchester County. The most taxed county in the United States only has MDT's in a handful of the 300-400 fire and EMS rigs. Because when it was last suggested, the Advisory boards said it was not needed.

Why would Westchester County be responsible for providing MDT'S to individual departments? If a department requires an MDT, and the associated data plan, they should purchase one.

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