Rx2000HIPAA Digest, Volume 12 > > #1 From: Mbarragan@sach.org Subject: Re: Cell Phones > #2 From: dafeinberg@home.com Subject: Fwd: WEDI Annoucement of HIPAA Implementation Forum > #3 From: Rita.Hubert@Med.Nyu.Edu Subject: Biometrics > #4 From: cioo@svch.com Subject: Re: Cell Phones > #5 From: info@rx2000.org Subject: RE: Cell Phones > #6 From: lmorgan@nmhs.net Subject: Alpha pagers > #7 From: DSHAW@mail.mcg.edu Subject: RE: Cell Phones > #8 From: Mary.Cooley@rsacompanies.com Subject: RE: Cell Phones > > > ********** Message #1 ********** > From: Mbarragan@sach.org > To: "'Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org'" > Subject: Re: Cell Phones > Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 10:22:18 -0700 > > I was involved in implementing a policy for the usage of cell phones in this > facility (to address the EMI issue) and had no knowledge of the > confidentiality issue as brought up in this listserv. If anyone can list > the agencies that mandates the requirements so I may research and address > this issue I would appreciate it. Also FYI: I decided to ask for a > restriction of cellphone usage in sensitive patient areas based on the > information and recommendations from the following sources: > > "A Practical Technique for Assessing Electromagnetic Interference in the > Clinical Setting: Ad Hoc Testing" (Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology, > Vol.32, #3., June 98). > "Radiofrequency Field Surveys in Hospitals" (BI&T, Vol30,#2, April 96). > "Experimental Study of Electromagnetic Interference From Cellular Phones > with Electronic Medical Equipment" (Journal of Clinical Engineering, Vol 23, > #2, March/April 98). > "Keeping Medical Devices Safe From Electromagnetic Interference" (FDA > Consumer, Vol 29 #4, May 95, www.fda.gov/opacom/catalog/emi.html). > "What Can/Should We Learn from Reports of Medical Device Electromagnetic > Interference?" (Compliance Engineering, Vol 13, #4, May/June 96. > www.ce-mag.com/ft2mj96.html). I believe this last report is no longer > available from the website. > > I felt that these findings and recommendations warranted that a policy > should be put in place to show due diligence even though mandates have not > been established, and even though I personally felt that the risk from > interference from cellular phones is minimal. > > MIke Barragan > Biomedical Supervisor > San Antonio Community Hospital > > > ********** Message #2 ********** > From: dafeinberg@home.com > To: rx2000hipaa@rx2000.org > Subject: Fwd: WEDI Annoucement of HIPAA Implementation Forum > Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 07:07:33 -0700 > > The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) will conduct an > industry forum on a HIPAA Strategic National Implementation Process > (SNIP) on June 15-16, 2000. The focus of this forum and the WEDI SNIP > is to begin to identify implementation issues, best practices, model > workflow scenarios, and to mitigate national deployment obstacles. > > For further details on the WEDI SNIP industry forum, view the first > entry in the "What's New" portion of the WEDI web site: www.wedi.org > > WEDI is a voluntary not-for-profit healthcare industry organization > specifically required by HIPAA [the legislation] to advise the > Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on such matters. > > Dave Feinberg > Co-Chair, HIPAA Implementation Work Group > Insurance Subcommittee > Accredited Standards Committee X12 > Voting Member, HL7 and X12 > Rensis Corporation [A Consulting Company] > 206-617-1717 > DAFeinberg@computer.org > > ********** Message #3 ********** > From: Rita.Hubert@Med.Nyu.Edu > To: RX2000HIPAA@RX2000.org > Subject: Biometrics > Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 13:38:47 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) > > Has anyone tested in the form of a pilot or using biometric > (finger print, retinal scan, etc) security software? I am > curious about what vendors others have tried, the cost and > your experiences related to implementation, use and support. > Thanks, Rita > ---------------------------------------- > Rita Hubert > Vice President, Information Technology > Mount Sinai NYU Health > Voice: (212) 263-8784 > Email: Rita.Hubert@Med.Nyu.Edu > Fax: (212) 263-8156 > > > ********** Message #4 ********** > From: cioo@svch.com > To: > Subject: Re: Cell Phones > Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 13:48:22 -0700 > > Cell Phones are not allowed in the our main facility or any area providing > monitored patient care. An interesting discovery we made in our OB unit was > when a visitor activated a cell phone in a patient's room. As soon as the > phone was activated, it set off the general fire alarm. It turned out to be > a PCS series digital phone. Analog cell phones have proven to effect some > of our telemetry transmissions. > > Jim Holmes > CIO/IS Manager > Sierra Vista Regional Health Center > Sierra Vista, AZ > (520) 417-3047 > cioo@svch.com > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: > Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 3:41 PM > Subject: Cell Phones > > > > > > I would appreciate any assistance in regard to the policies in use for > Cell > > Phones. I think that the use of cell phones has extended broadly > throughout > > hospitals generally and I fear that in certain situations they may be used > > to discuss patient care issues. Since Cell Phones are not guaranteed in > > regard to privacy there is a growing concern regarding confidentiality. I > > have two questions > > 1. Do you restrict use to certain areas and certain groups of > > employees? > > 2. If you allow them to be used what policies do you have in place? > > Thank You. > > > > > > Margaret Chuman > > PeaceHealth > > 425.649.3871 > > > > > > > ********** Message #5 ********** > From: info@rx2000.org > To: rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org > Subject: RE: Cell Phones > Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 10:35:42 -0500 > > > ******************************************************** > ** Note from Rx2000: > ** If anyone is willing to make available their policies, we would be > happy to post > ** them (anonymously or with attribution) in the Self-Help Materials > section of > ** the Rx2000 website at http://www.rx2000.org . Please send them to > ** info@rx2000.org . Thank you. > ** -- Rx2000 Listserv Moderator > ******************************************************** > > > > It seems as if this is the topic of the day! I am currently looking into > (researching that is) modifying our cell phone policies. I would be > interested in seeing anyone else's if willing to share and would be glad to > pass on my revised policy once modified. Any takers? > > > Brian G. Gager > IS Planning & Research Analyst > Carondelet Health > Kansas City, MO > Phone: (816) 943-5991 > Fax: (816) 943-2896 > > > > > > > > > > > > > ********** Message #6 ********** > From: lmorgan@nmhs.net > To: Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org > Subject: Alpha pagers > Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 14:01:39 -0500 > > since we're on cell phones let me throw another one in here... > > Does anyone have information whether alpha messages sent to pagers = > containing patient information would come under the security regs????? > > > > > Larry Morgan, RPh > Manager, Clinical Systems > North Mississippi Health Services > 812 Varsity Dr. > Tupelo, Ms 38801 > > > > > ********** Message #7 ********** > From: DSHAW@mail.mcg.edu > To: > Subject: RE: Cell Phones > Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 15:11:05 -0400 > > Steve, The University of Oklahoma (I think) Center for Electromagnetic = > Interference (I think) has done numerous studies on this subject, with the = > findings favorable for the use of cellular technology in a clinical = > environment (with some limitations). I'll see if I can dig up the study = > and stick it out here for everyone to look up. > I did fail to mention in my earlier post that the use of cellular = > technology becomes a serious issue of patient confidentiality, when used = > openly. My wife had recent surgery and while visiting her, I followed a = > doctor down the hall, who was talking on his cell phone and I learned some = > very private information about the patient, to include the patient's name = > and room number. Just another thought for consideration. . . Dwain! > P.S. the "I thinks" are issues of senior moments. Y'all will understand = > in a few years. > > >>> 04/25/00 09:45AM >>> > > I had a recent hospital visit and brought my phone and laptop so that I > could keep working. Years earlier laptops were prohibited but these no > longer were an issue. However, the cell phone was banned so I put it away = > - > only to find that all the doctor's were taking cell phone calls in my room > and at the nurses station. I assume that this is a typical enforcement > problem... > > The word is that wireless is going to explode with wireless PDAs, laptops, > and Dick Tracy wrist phones becoming common place. It would be interesting > to see some solid research on interference, if any, from these devises on > medical and hospital equipment. > > Steve Davis > Principal, DavisLogic, Inc. > http://www.DavisLogic.com=20 > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org [mailto:Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org]=20 > > Sent: April 21, 2000 8:03 AM > > To: Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org=20 > > Subject: RE: Cell Phones > > > > > > > > We prohibit the use of all cell phones within the hospital. This was = > done > > primarily to eliminate the risk of electromagnetic interference with our > > medical equipment, such as telemetry. The new digital phones are > > much more > > secure (privacy) and low-power than the old bag phones, but we > > have no plans > > to lift the prohibition. > > > > We are considering the "very low power" digital wireless units > > that operate > > on our own PBX. They appear to be a very good alternative to cell = > phones. > > They don't work if you leave the hospital, but that helps them from = > being > > stolen. > > > > Vic Sands > > Project Management Office > > Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc. > > 3000 MacCorkle Ave, SE > > Charleston, WV 25304 > > Vic.Sands@camcare.com=20 > > 304-348-9033 (voice) > > 304-348-5553 (fax) > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org [mailto:Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org]=20 > > Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 6:41 PM > > To: Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org=20 > > Subject: Cell Phones > > > > > > > > I would appreciate any assistance in regard to the policies in > > use for Cell > > Phones. I think that the use of cell phones has extended broadly > > throughout > > hospitals generally and I fear that in certain situations they may be = > used > > to discuss patient care issues. Since Cell Phones are not guaranteed in > > regard to privacy there is a growing concern regarding confidentiality. = > I > > have two questions > > 1. Do you restrict use to certain areas and certain groups of > > employees? > > 2. If you allow them to be used what policies do you have in = > place? > > Thank You. > > > > > > Margaret Chuman > > PeaceHealth > > 425.649.3871 > > > > > > > > ********** Message #8 ********** > From: Mary.Cooley@rsacompanies.com > To: "'Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org'" > Subject: RE: Cell Phones > Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 13:35:18 -0600 > > > You would still need to cover the use of cellular phones to discuss/transmit > Protected Health Information (PHI) in your Policies and Procedures manual > for Privacy and Security and you would need to train on the > inappropriateness of the activity until everyone figures out you are talking > to them. Not only the patient, but any interested party reporting the > breach of privacy will cause someone to be cited. > > I am surprised noone has suggested that the same problem might exist from > doctors walking the halls of their office or the hospital and dictating > patient notes into one of the mini disc units. Anyone can overhear them. > > MC > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org [mailto:Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org] > Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 9:12 AM > To: Rx2000HIPAA@rx2000.org > Subject: Re: Cell Phones > > > > > Most hospitals discourage the use of cell phones for reasons of > potential interference with medical equipment and that should take > care of any privacy issues. Once someone is out of the hospital, > there isn't much one can do. Of course, it takes some reaonably > spoecialized equipment to "eavedrop" on a cell phone coversation, and > even some tenacity if an outsider wanted to find some specific > information on a specific patient, so I think the odds are pretty > small of breaching privacy in this manner. Elevator and corridor > conversations are probably the biggest problem. > > Certainly, anyone who uses a cell phone, or cordless phone, should > realize that they are talking on a radion and as such their > conversations can be intercepted. > > > ______________________________ Reply Separator > _________________________________ > Subject: Cell Phones > Author: at ccinternet > Date: 4/20/00 3:41 PM > > > > I would appreciate any assistance in regard to the policies in use for Cell > Phones. I think that the use of cell phones has extended broadly throughout > hospitals generally and I fear that in certain situations they may be used > to discuss patient care issues. Since Cell Phones are not guaranteed in > regard to privacy there is a growing concern regarding confidentiality. I > have two questions > 1. Do you restrict use to certain areas and certain groups of > employees? > 2. If you allow them to be used what policies do you have in place? > Thank You. > > > Margaret Chuman > PeaceHealth > 425.649.3871 > >