By: Angel MedFlight Contributor
Angel MedFlight Flight Coordinators follow HIPAA guidelines to safeguard security of patients.
Personal information is private. People can experience both personal and economic hardship caused by identity thieves and scammers. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the top complaint category for the twelfth year in a row is identity theft. In 2011, more than 1.8 million complaints were filed and nearly 280,000 or 15% were identity theft related claims. This is more than debt collection complaints, bank and lender grievances, or phone service provider complaints.
This information is top-of-mind to many consumers. Every time you swipe your credit card for gas, provide personal information online or over the phone, or enter into a sweepstakes drawing, you are at risk of exposing your private information to unintended individuals or organizations. We at Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance would like to set your mind at ease with divulging information regarding our safeguard policies.
Angel MedFlight requires personal information in order to assist a patient with air ambulance transportation. Social security number, date of birth, gender, medical history, and more. It can be unsettling to provide that kind of information, no matter the necessity. We require this information for good reason and would like to assure patients of our commitment to protecting their privileged information. We protect your information by adhering to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules.
All Angel MedFlight employees are required to successfully complete an extensive HIPAA training course. This program details the regulations set forth by the United States Department of Health and Human Resources for protecting sensitive electronic personal information. Simply put, Angel MedFlight, under the provisions of the Patient Safety Rule, will protect any identifiable information to maintain your anonymity, improving your safety.
The HIPAA guidelines followed allow the release of information including medical condition, medications, allergies, and any other necessary information in order to treat a patient properly. Information excluded or redacted from shared documentation among third parties include social security number, address, contact information, and other information that can identify a patient. Without patient consent, no personal information can be shared with any non-medical, non-covered entity.
Angel MedFlight abides by these regulations and places proper safeguards in place to ensure the correct physical and electronic procedures are followed. Our Flight Coordinators maintain best practice policies provided and enforced by HIPAA to continue providing secure and dependable air ambulance services. We care about each patient and keeping them safe – both in the air and online.
