Why go encrypted

[SCPD]

For Covered Entities

Nice... I can see how that fits. Is it arguable, though, that the EMS folks transmitting the information electronically (via radio) to the hospital are a "Covered Entity"

From the link you cited: ( http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HIPAAGenInfo/Downloads/CoveredEntitycharts.pdf - see page 3)

Does the person, business,
or agency furnish, bill or
receive payment for, health
care in the normal course of
business (1)?

Yes. AMR charges for health care. (Ambulance service is health care)

Does the person, business or
agency transmit (send) any
covered transactions
electronically?

Yes. AMR can and does send patient information electronically over the County owned TRS.

STOP!
The person,
business, or
agency is a
covered health
care provider

If that doesn't do it for ya, see page 4.

 

[N_Jay]

Check what constitutes a "covered transaction"?

For your entity, the answer may be yes, but it is not a universal yes for all agencies.

In general HIPPA scares a lot of people and agencies more then it needs to.

Additionally much has not been through the court, so there are still lots of unclear areas.

Check out slide 9, paragraph #3 last sentence.

 

[SCPD]

Okay...you've got some good points there. At least I lured you out of the Great Land of Ambiguity!

As a supervisor who occasionally relays medical information via radio, I prefer to err on the side of caution and air as little personal and/or detail as possible. Enough to convey to responders what they need to know without jeopardizing the privacy of the individual.

Good points tho, Jay - you know what you're talking about.

 

[K8TEK]

You fail to mention N_Jay all the people who eavesdrop on the conversation. You can't give out identifiable information about a patient to someone not providing them care. If the right person found out about it, there would be a lawsuit and whoever gave out the information would lose.

Not only that, the privacy rule you mention is just one aspect of HIPAA.

BTW, a "Covered Entity" is someone required to comply with HIPAA requirements. Not someone who is covered to do whatever they want.

 

[N_Jay]

You fail to mention N_Jay all the people who eavesdrop on the conversation. You can't give out identifiable information about a patient to someone not providing them care. If the right person found out about it, there would be a lawsuit and whoever gave out the information would lose.

Not only that, the privacy rule you mention is just one aspect of HIPAA.

BTW, a "Covered Entity" is someone required to comply with HIPAA requirements. Not someone who is covered to do whatever they want.

Did you look at the link?

Can you provide me an example of a HIPPA lawsuit?

 

[K8TEK]

Did you look at the link?

Can you provide me an example of a HIPPA lawsuit?

It is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. You can't even get the acronym correct.

 

[N_Jay]

OMG (as the kids say today), that makes everything I have posted in this thread so TOTALLY worthless.

It is like, um, an epic fail!

(To those who care, sorry about the HIPPA vs. HIPAA error, hope no one was confused.)

 

[idontknow82]

I bet it costs taxpayers a whole lot of money for this kind of system. I bet this goes down behind closed doors to decide to go encrypted.

 

[N_Jay]

Now this is just TOOOO F-ING good to pass up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post 16 until he edits it!

Not only that, it is illegal per HIPPA even if it is encrypted.

:lol::twisted::twisted::lol:

 

[mondaro]

Not only that, it is illegal per HIPPA even if it is encrypted.

Where in the HIPPA regs does it say that ? Just wondering I never ran in that and I deal with the regs everyday. Thanks

Tony

 

[JoeyC]

I also feel some towns use encryption as a cover up. I feel Brick Township, NJ has all the police stuff encrypted as part of a cover up so they can continue to get recognized as the best place to live in NJ. My girlfriend knows somebody who lives in Brick and she told me they covered a lot of stuff up in order to get that recognition. Thus I feel the encryption is employed so nobody knows what's going on in terms of crime.

LOL, I had to laugh at this even before I finished reading this thread. Police departments "covering stuff up" wouldn't be discussing the cover-ups over the air, encrypted or not. You are suggesting the entire force is crooked since they could all be listening.

Back to the thread...

 

[kenisned]

So many philadelphia lawyers...

People cite HIPPA without ever having read the law.

You can transmit PHI (protected health information) via radio to another healthcare provider.

Oh, and most EMS agencies are not covered entities as they don't bill for services.

.

As for encryption. Waste of money. Use your cellphone for sensitive information.

.

 

[ion_op]

Maybe the have something to hide from the public.

 

[N_Jay]

So many philadelphia lawyers...

People cite HIPPA without ever having read the law.

You can transmit PHI (protected health information) via radio to another healthcare provider.

Oh, and most EMS agencies are not covered entities as they don't bill for services.

Right!

As for encryption. Waste of money. Use your cellphone for sensitive information..

Wrong!

 

[N_Jay]

Maybe the have something to hide from the public.

Except the information is usually recorded and encryption over the air does not prevent a FOIA (or other similar) request.

 

[kenisned]

Wrong!

Double Wrong!

 

[N_Jay]

Double Wrong!

Based on?

 

[kenisned]

Based on?

Oh, you want an opinion to go along with that?

What did you base, "wrong" on?

For an EMS agency to spend money on encryption is a waste. If they have information that is THAT sensitive, use a cell phone.

 

[N_Jay]

Oh, you want an opinion to go along with that?

Nope, just some support for your strong opinion.

What did you base, "wrong" on?

30 years of working for and with federal, state and local public safety agencies in the needs analysys, design and implementation of radio systems.

For an EMS agency to spend money on encryption is a waste.

Maybe, but we were not discussing only EMS radio systems. (Although that was the last few posts)

If they have information that is THAT sensitive, use a cell phone.

You have jumped to the ASSUMPTION that cellphones provide acceptable coverage.
You have also assumed that a cell phone is available.

You have ignored the cost of the cellphone service and equipment.

 

[gcr33]

Encryption is not that expensive and generally a one time expense. There are several forms of encryption which can be purchased with new radios or add on modules that are a couple of bucks.

We here are part of the problem and when people here and other threads make light of cops and firefighters ordering food or doughnuts would you want people making fun of you and your employees. Encryption then becomes an easy sell.

I don't get the posters who think it fosters corruption. What kind of corruption? Do the politicians of NJ who have been convicted use these radios? It's not the radio.

Perhaps less mentioning of things you heard might help. Again the doughnuts/coffee thing sure does not help when you keep repeating it. How big a deal is it for a desk officer/fire house to ask for a unit to pick up something? Not everyone has a cellphone and or unlimited minutes.

Encryption is VERY expensive. It's not going to be used just to avoid the scanner-listening public. It's done because there is a perception that it will enhance officer safety and effectiveness.

I say "perception" because that is what the belief is. there is some truth and validity to that, but it ptobably also gets over stated. The bottom line is, dealing with drug cartels, organized crime, and "homeland security" issues, law enforcement feels the need to use whatever tools they have to make their jobs safer and easier. Encryption is just one of many tools...