EMS to Hospital communication

[dmoore12345]

I follow the rules, whatever they are... but is the reason for the one below medical privacy or something? Just curious - blocking Investigations / swat or whatever is self explanatory- but was just curious... (there is a local EMS to XXXX hospital and I have it locked out)....

• Feed providers agree to not broadcast dedicated channels or talkgroups for Ambulance to Hospital Communications.

 

[boatbod]

I follow the rules, whatever they are... but is the reason for the one below medical privacy or something? Just curious - blocking Investigations / swat or whatever is self explanatory- but was just curious... (there is a local EMS to XXXX hospital and I have it locked out)....

• Feed providers agree to not broadcast dedicated channels or talkgroups for Ambulance to Hospital Communications.

The broadcasts do contain sensitive information. I'm not quite sure it meets the criteria of HIPPA since no names are used, but it doesn't take much effort to combine the original dispatch address with the consult unit number to figure out who the patient is.

 

[KK4JUG]

The broadcasts do contain sensitive information. I'm not quite sure it meets the criteria of HIPPA since no names are used, but it doesn't take much effort to combine the original dispatch address with the consult unit number to figure out who the patient is.

First, it's HIPAA. Second, though most try to abide by HIPAA, they are exempt from the regulations (as is LE).

 

[fredva]

As somebody once explained it, HIPAA establishes the minimum requirements of patient privacy. It doesn't prevent others from going beyond the requirements to add more privacy protections. So you might say the prohibition is in the spirit of HIPAA. Same goes for some jurisdictions encrypting hospital channels.

 

[INDY72]

Its all about CYOA.. End of story.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

I can understand the patient privacy stuff but my area also uses those same channels when there is an MCI. The hospital determines patient destinations for the incident and tells the medical director where to send them.

 

[KK4JUG]

Its all about CYOA.. End of story.

Yeah, that's the bottom line for a lot of things but shielding the derrière may not be necessary if HIPAA doesn't apply. That's not to say that it still isn't the prudent thing to do, however.

 

[ecps92]

If LE runs the Ambulance and Bills, they are not exempt

First, it's HIPAA. Second, though most try to abide by HIPAA, they are exempt from the regulations (as is LE).

 

[Citywide173]

It is strictly liability protection for RR. HIPAA only applies to covered entities, of which scanner listeners and RR are not (if the PD runs the ambulance, then LE is a covered entity-they don't get a full pass.) Radio communications to facilitate proper patient care are also exempted provided that only the minimum amount necessary to achieve that facilitation be used.

RR and its subsidiaries are a privately owned and operated business, as such, they set the rules and if you don't like them, tough.

 

[Citywide173]

If LE runs the Ambulance and Bills, they are not exempt

We've known each other too long

 

[ecps92]

You taught me the Radio/HIPAA rules O Jedi Master

We've known each other too long

 

[Giddyuptd]

With above said with a few, plus why open that can of worms? NM is in a slow process to do away with the uhf med channels onto the state 700 trs down the road with you know what E.

 

[Citywide173]

With above said with a few, plus why open that can of worms? NM is in a slow process to do away with the uhf med channels onto the state 700 trs down the road with you know what E.

The only problem with that is will it create an unfunded mandate for private ambulance services? Specifically, Will they be forced to buy the state's radios or pay an upkeep subscription?

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

The only problem with that is will it create an unfunded mandate for private ambulance services? Specifically, Will they be forced to buy the state's radios or pay an upkeep subscription?

It’s pretty much that way everywhere else. If you’re part of the 911 system, you have to have the radios that work with their system, no matter what it is and no matter who you are, private/public/district, etc.

 

[DJ11DLN]

It’s pretty much that way everywhere else. If you’re part of the 911 system, you have to have the radios that work with their system, no matter what it is and no matter who you are, private/public/district, etc.

Same way here -- "If you want to play, you have to pay."

 

[Citywide173]

It’s pretty much that way everywhere else. If you’re part of the 911 system, you have to have the radios that work with their system, no matter what it is and no matter who you are, private/public/district, etc.

But what if you aren't part of the 9-1-1 system? Plenty of ambulance services choose to do transfer only. They still have to meet specs for ambulance to hospital communication.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

But what if you aren't part of the 9-1-1 system? Plenty of ambulance services choose to do transfer only. They still have to meet specs for ambulance to hospital communication.

Only if the local EMS license authority requires it. Many IFT services just use their own private radio system or cellphones. And even if they are required to have a 911 radio, what does it matter what radio it is? You will still need one and most PS level commercial radios already have P25 already now days.

 

[Dark_Side]

Zello you Feed..
Use vox

Multi platform Windows,Windows RT,android,Apple

 

[talviar]

But what if you aren't part of the 9-1-1 system? Plenty of ambulance services choose to do transfer only. They still have to meet specs for ambulance to hospital communication.

Cant vouch for other states---- PA has a requirement that all hospitals and ambulances to have 155.340 installed and operational.

In Fayette County PA and other ICORRS radio system counties - there is a requirement that the service must have a primary response area in a county covered by the ICORRS foot print to have access to the trunking radio system.

 

[Citywide173]

Cant vouch for other states---- PA has a requirement that all hospitals and ambulances to have 155.340 installed and operational.

In Fayette County PA and other ICORRS radio system counties - there is a requirement that the service must have a primary response area in a county covered by the ICORRS foot print to have access to the trunking radio system.

This is much more what I was getting at. In Massachusetts, all ambulances must have the UHF MED channels, as well as radios with enough capacity to have every regions PL tone in its own channel (radios required by the state must have a minimum of 160 channels.)

https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/07/un/radio-communications-plan.pdf

If you put them onto a trunked system by force, who pays to replace whatever they are currently using, and what access do they have? If they are a 9-1-1 provider, do they have access to the other public safety agencies for monitoring (scene safety/patient update) purposes? If the agencies that are the other first responder agencies are encrypted, will they allow that potential security exposure since they don't control the radios?