I suppose this goes right out the window now.
Source: https://www.varonis.com/blog/hipaa-compliance/
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'New order will give 911 dispatchers names and addresses of COVID-19 patients'
Ohio's Health Director Dr. Amy Acton announced that 911 dispatchers will be given the addresses and names of people who test positive for the coronavirus.
Tuesday, April 14th 2020, 9:40 PM EDT by Danielle Cotterman
Updated: Tuesday, April 14th 2020, 9:41 PM EDT
In a new order aimed at keeping first-responders safe, Ohio's Health Director Dr. Amy Acton announced that 911 dispatchers will be given the addresses and names of people who test positive for the coronavirus. The information will be kept confidential but will allow first-responders to be prepared when responding to homes.
"They normally think I go out, I take care of a patient, and then I go back home at the end of my shift and I'm done. Now in the back of their mind, these men and women now have the thought 'What if I get exposed?' explained President and CEO of Lane Life Trans Paramedic Ambulance, Joseph Lane.
The new order requires health departments to provide 911 centers with the names and addresses of positive COVID-19 patients.
For EMS workers, like those with Lane Life Trans Paramedic Ambulance, this gives them the heads up to fully equip themselves in personal protective equipment. It also gives them a heads-up to use an ambulance that is specifically designed for COVID-19 patients.
"They're lined in the back with almost a plastic liner in the back, so they're easily cleaned after," said Lane.
For police, being fully dressed in PPE for every call isn't a reality. And while dispatchers currently ask if anyone at the home has flu-like symptoms or COVID symptoms. Boardman's Police Chief Todd Werth said that information isn't always relayed by the caller.
"Unfortunately when people are calling 911 there in a traumatic situation they have a lot going on," explained Werth.
This order is an extra layer of protection for all first-responders.
In Trumbull County, the 911 Director Ernie Cook said placing an alert on addresses with positive cases is something they've already been doing and working with the health department to update the list on a daily basis.
"We were one of the first counties out there to do it, almost all counties have been doing it for a while," said Cook.
State leaders said the order will help provide consistency across the state.
Source: https://www.wfmj.com/clip/15047076/...hers-names-and-addresses-of-covid-19-patients
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"Most all county's' have been doing this for sometime" -
Hmmm,,, sometime, huh? I suppose it's all in the sake of safety now, but for whom?
Why shouldn't everyone have that information if it's for the sake of safety?
Wouldn't/Aren't each public servant treating any/all strangers as if they were infected? Wouldn't that be considered a wise thing to do, or 'best practice', especially at the present time? That's what I would do if I was a public servant. That approach would make perfectly good sense to me.
Anyhow,,, I'm not on board with this new order.
An actual list with personal unique identifiers, such as specific health diagnoses and/or other forms of specific identification that will be roaming around within the state's systems for whomever deemed to be in the"need to know" basis, for the sake of safety.
I expect some here will be perfectly fine with it and consider the new order a good thing, which is fine.
I cared to share this information with anyone else that wasn't aware of the this new state order and what potential dangers may come along with it regarding our civil rights.
I've read/heard that some Ohioans have plans on protesting this very order at the state house.