Medical Track: First Response, Industrial Medicine and Space Health · Module 3 of 4 · about 15 min
Privacy and telehealth
The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects individually identifiable health information held by covered entities: health plans, health care clearinghouses and most health care providers, plus their business associates. It sets limits on who can see and share it, and gives patients rights to their records.
On a worksite, the medic's notes and the employer's personnel files are different things. Share health details only with people who need them for care, safety or legally required reporting, and follow your organization's policy. Gossip about a coworker's condition is a fast way to lose trust and possibly your job.
Telehealth connects remote patients with clinicians by video, phone or remote monitoring. HHS runs a telehealth resource site for patients and providers. For remote sites, telehealth means a field medic can get a doctor to see the patient, review vitals and decide on evacuation.
Good telehealth depends on good field data: clear vital signs, times, photos where allowed and a concise report. Practice giving a short structured handoff, covering who the patient is, what happened, what you found and what you did.
Sources
Module quiz
5 questions, 4 correct to pass. You'll see what you missed and why, and you can retake it.