Pre-hospital trauma follow up

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Wow.  Our secure server even caught the code word in my message body.
Didn't see that coming.

Message is repeated, without the code word:

Hi again. It's me, the HIPAA narc.

This is a decent start, and surely with the best of intentions; but if
it's as simple as you describe, you're seriously exposed to breathtaking
federal penalties.

First, email is almost completely unprotected.  Never put anything in
regular email that you would not confidently put on a post card.  

(Our organization has a secure email server which is activated on both
sides of the interaction when [A CODE WORD] is included in the subject
line [or, it seems anywhere else].  I know that it works; I don't know
HOW it works.  But our compliance officer seems satisfied.)

Further, feedback in any format must be explicitly intended and labeled
as both 1) confidential and b) for performance improvement purposes
only.  If the case information includes any references to substance
abuse or dependency, psychiatric illness, or HIV infection, you must
have written permission from the patient or legal representative before
you share it.

And finally, if this information is shared with anyone other than the
patient's direct care providers -- even with all the other conditions in
force -- then your luncheons should include each attendee signing a
confidentiality agreement.

It all seems excessive, unless you're the patient people are talking
about.

Pret Bjorn, RN
Bangor, ME USA


-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
[mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of
msmaltini345 at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 9:54 AM
To: trauma-list at trauma.org
Subject: Re: Pre-hospital trauma follow up


We have an email address set up for providers. They email their date of
service, patient name and any specifics they desire to know.

They are emailed back with the info. 

We also do trauma lunches where cases are presented and providers can
attend and speak to the pre hospital care and findings.


Mike 

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