By Jessie Forand
WASHINGTON — To help address misconceptions around the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) Technical Assistance Center and law firm Page, Wolfberg & Wirth have partnered to provide a list of resources for providers.
Available on the American Ambulance Association’s website, the resource includes HIPAA basics for EMS providers, data exchange information and legal opinions.
Read more: Page, Wolfberg & Wirth EMS Legal Update
According to the website, EMS agencies often report that hospitals and other healthcare providers won’t share information, citing HIPAA as the barrier.
This can build “artificial” walls in the exchange of important data, the AAA said.
“While obstacles may remain for the appropriate sharing of patient information, HIPAA is not one of them. Sharing patient information benefits EMS agencies and improves prehospital patient care by revealing evidence-based practices that make a difference for patients in the field,” the website says.