SC Att'y General says ambulance records should be withheld

[Tincanfireman]

SC Attorney General Henry McMasters says that ambulance response times should not be released, citing patient confidentiality as the reason. Read the entire story here.

 

[VentMedic]

There is a problem with their interpretation of confidentiality. It protects for the wrong reason and prevents any quality improvement in that situation if a problems is not recognized. As well, it treats the ambulance as a separate entity totally in a "system". In a time where improvements are needed to determine contracts and expenditures as well as capital budget planning for trauma, stroke and cardiac systems throughout a region, this region seems to be protecting another interest. Even in HIPAA, it allows for data collection for quality improvement.

 

[Bloom-IUEMT]

There is a problem with their interpretation of confidentiality. It protects for the wrong reason and prevents any quality improvement in that situation if a problems is not recognized. As well, it treats the ambulance as a separate entity totally in a "system". In a time where improvements are needed to determine contracts and expenditures as well as capital budget planning for trauma, stroke and cardiac systems throughout a region, this region seems to be protecting another interest. Even in HIPAA, it allows for data collection for quality improvement.

Yes what he said!

I am amazed someone would use "patient confidentiality" as an excuse for covering up what indicates that the service has poor response times What kind of person/service/EMS system thinks they are above reproach? How much is the Attorney General getting paid to support this?