This discussion group is for EMS professionals responsible for or otherwise interested in HIPAA compliance -- Privacy, Security, Transactions, whatever. We want to stimulate and engage in discussion on HIPAA challenges unique -- or not so unique -- to the prehospital environment. Whether it's basic privacy protection, computerized patient reporting, Notice of Privacy Practices requirements, law enforcement disclosures, training, policies & procedures ... it doesn't matter. It's all fair game here. If you're a rookie Privacy Officer or Security Officer asking a basic question, bring it on. If you're a seasoned compliance expert with an answer to a sticky situation, we'd love to have you.

The usual disclaimer here: Do not construe what you get here as legal advice. Most members probably are not lawyers. Even the attorneys probably will tell you the same; they don't know your situation fully and they may not know your state's laws. So seek and follow your own legal counsel when indicated.

Posting guidelines:

Practice good "netiquette." Professional dialog is expected at all times. Honest disagreement and constructive debate are fine, even encouraged. Flaming, personal attacks, and profanity are not.

Feel free to share with others material from the public domain, your own original material, or, with its permission, your organization's material. Sharing of copyrighted material shall be done only with permission of the author.

Low-key promotion by group members in good standing of HIPAA-related products or services is acceptable if potentially beneficial to group members. (If this gets out of hand, I will have to restrict it.) Wholesale spamming, of course, is prohibited and spammers will be banned.

One final note. These are subject to change. A lot is subject to change, for that matter. I'm new at this group ownership thing, so bear with me. Experienced group owners or moderators who join up, feel free to offer advice. Thanks in advance!