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If all of these is true, why has EMS been called? If the person is "sick" do they not benefit from an assessment beyond "SpO2"? All of the factors you mentioned do play a role in assessing a patient. One should not assume "normal" just because of a number on a pulse oximeter. Do you...

Do you also believe it is appropriate to with hold oxygen on someone who is trying in increase their oxygenation by increasing overall minute ventilation? This would have similar results as telling someone with DKA to slow their breathing. Unfortunatelly some do fixate on an SpO2 and are...

Withhold oxygen? Apparently that is the message some might be trying to drive home if the "SpO2" is high. The objecive should be to decrease work of breathing. Are you going to with hold oxygen for someone who is suspect for a pulmonary emboli. The cassic sign might be rspiratory alkalosis...

But, what about the tissue perfusion? In the ICUs we are able to see the SaO2, PaO2, ScvO2 or SvO2. We adjust fluids and pressors according with the O2 in place until we know we can improve delivery. The SpO2 can remain at 100% but the PaO2 can change. Unfortunately all you might have as...

An SpO2 of 100% does not always mean hyperoxygenated. Some barely make an adquate PaO2 but still have a high SpO2. Some factors shift the oxyhemoglobin curve which could mean a higher SpO2 but a lower PaO2. Be very careful with assuming especially with sick patients you are seeing for the first...

True. But in large systems, it is difficult to track which Paramedic did what. Not everyone is on an EMR with legible writing and some only use numbers as their identifiers. Some also believe a uniform gets them a free pass. I could use a well known Paramedic who had many, many visitors wearing...

But I can also see the stance HIPAA is trying to take. This is the electronic age and it is very, very easy for data to get diverted to serve somebody else's purpose and not the patient. We've already seen numerous examples of FaceBook and other breaches of information. Now imagine what some...

That does not mean you can announce Mr. Smith has AIDS and give out his SS# on the open air. You can warn of certain hazards for other arriving crews. This year more focus is on EMS and its PHI security.

I have been. Most recently some in Washington and Oregon. California is not my home state. There is a nationwide push for hospitals and medical offices to upgrade their EMRs and data security. This is nothing new but it takes time for a system to be built which includes many areas...even ECGs.

I will be at a hospital just south of you for another 2 weeks. I will check with the facilities in your area we helped with their EMRs. It is not good if info is easily accessible to non hospital employees. The ED would be a weak spot with many distractions.

I don't know which hospitals you are referring to specifically. But I do know some of the hospitals you have mentioned on this forum do have codes for their copy machines as well as the door to the room they are in. This was an issue for security when we were doing the EMR upgrades for the...

That is why most of these machines now have coded access. You are missing the point. Electronic footprints will catch up with someone eventually. You don't seem to appreciate the risks someone is taking for you.

Bottomline as it pertains to the original post. Don't beg or harass for copies of a medical record you are not entitled to. It just shows a great disrespect fot that employee and could put their job in jeopardy. Their bosses will not know what info was blacked out. If you still want a copy go...

No it is not stupid to protect patients' medical information. Even teaching hospitals have to know the boundaries of using certain information for education. We don't know the intent of these EMTs. Bragging rights? Cool call with the guy in Bed 2 and this is his ECG... Is it a celebrity's...

That is not a medical record. And the person has not been stated to be a resident or owner at that address. However, the first decade of HIV changed a lot when dispatch or the EMTs/Paramedics were saying "Be advised the resident at that address has HIV or AIDS". EMS also used to identify...

But the ECG machine will know another copy was made which is not accounted for. Electronic foot prints are a reality and hard to fight if your name is one them. How you use this information when you talk about it in public such as "the guy in the MVC" at 5th and Elm, will be identifiers...

Patient privacy laws mean their treatment and medical records will not be made public or given out just for the asking by any one. Would you want everyone to know about your family's medical problems to be discussed at the local diner? How many abortions your sister had? What sexually...

Okay let me address the OP. The OP obviously knows the HIPAA policy and hospital policies he is in. The OP is directly responsible for this part of the patient record. Yes, an ECG is part of the patient record. This is medical information about the patient. This is medical information...

DesertEMT66 Premium+ Member Forum Troll DesertEMT66's Avatar Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Middle of No Where, CaliforniaPosts: 5,338 Training: EMT-B/EMT-1 DesertEMT66 is from California and that is who I was replying to.

For a hospital employee in California to be okay with this is disturbing especially since California privacy laws make HIPAA look tame. There have been enough examples of violations sent out to all hospitals in California which should have been mandatory reading for all. The law specifically...