Hello; long time reader, first time poster.
I am a senior in an emergency services management degree, doing a little research on HIPAA, blogs and the rise of cellphone camera use.
I was hoping to contact some EMS/FD workers about any experiences they may have had with publicly released information. I'm looking at the surge of personal bloggers and those who may have run afoul of their department's policies on releasing information they maybe shouldn't have. I'm not looking for any damning information but more of some generalities relating to their department's policies on the matter, some types of incidents they may have been involved in and training relating to the matter. I will of course keep any details confidential. If you are interested in answering a few questions. I would appreciate it. I can be PM'd or emailed.
Here are the questions:
What kind of department are you with? IE: Fire only Ambulance only, mixed, rural, urban
Does your department have a specific policy relating to blogging, taking cellphone pics on a call or at the station house? If so I would appreciate a copy of the policy.
Do you have to inform your dept. of your blog facebook or other social networking site pages?
What kind of training is given in regards to the policy? IE: A real sit down training, a bulletin board notice, etc..
Does your department have any new training or policies relating to possibly being video'd or recorded by a bystander, family member or patient now that every cellphone can do that?
What kinds of violations and actions were taken relating to any lapses in the policy in your department? IE: One department stated that their only breach was a firefighter who took some pictures in front of his rig in his tux with his new bride in her wedding dress and posted them to his blog. While perfectly innocent, the department required that he take the pictures off his blog or photoshop out the department's graphics from the rig so the department could not be identified.
I'm not looking for any information to incriminate anyone and I have seen all of the 'nude pics taken at the FD" articles. I'm looking more for personal blog/facebook level types of policies and lapses and how they were handled, and copies of any department policies relating to the matter.
PM me here and we can exchange real email addresses. I'll be glad to provide a finished copy of the research paper I am doing.
Garp
I am a senior in an emergency services management degree, doing a little research on HIPAA, blogs and the rise of cellphone camera use.
I was hoping to contact some EMS/FD workers about any experiences they may have had with publicly released information. I'm looking at the surge of personal bloggers and those who may have run afoul of their department's policies on releasing information they maybe shouldn't have. I'm not looking for any damning information but more of some generalities relating to their department's policies on the matter, some types of incidents they may have been involved in and training relating to the matter. I will of course keep any details confidential. If you are interested in answering a few questions. I would appreciate it. I can be PM'd or emailed.
Here are the questions:
What kind of department are you with? IE: Fire only Ambulance only, mixed, rural, urban
Does your department have a specific policy relating to blogging, taking cellphone pics on a call or at the station house? If so I would appreciate a copy of the policy.
Do you have to inform your dept. of your blog facebook or other social networking site pages?
What kind of training is given in regards to the policy? IE: A real sit down training, a bulletin board notice, etc..
Does your department have any new training or policies relating to possibly being video'd or recorded by a bystander, family member or patient now that every cellphone can do that?
What kinds of violations and actions were taken relating to any lapses in the policy in your department? IE: One department stated that their only breach was a firefighter who took some pictures in front of his rig in his tux with his new bride in her wedding dress and posted them to his blog. While perfectly innocent, the department required that he take the pictures off his blog or photoshop out the department's graphics from the rig so the department could not be identified.
I'm not looking for any information to incriminate anyone and I have seen all of the 'nude pics taken at the FD" articles. I'm looking more for personal blog/facebook level types of policies and lapses and how they were handled, and copies of any department policies relating to the matter.
PM me here and we can exchange real email addresses. I'll be glad to provide a finished copy of the research paper I am doing.
Garp