What is HIPAA?
HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a federal law designed to protect patient privacy and ensure the security of sensitive health information. In the EMS field, this means that any personal health information you encounter—such as a patient’s medical history, treatment details, or identifying information—must be kept confidential and shared only with authorized personnel as necessary for patient care. HIPAA is crucial in healthcare, ensuring that patients feel safe knowing their personal information is protected, while healthcare providers, including EMS professionals, maintain a high standard of privacy and security in all interactions and records.
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