Follow-up Communication With Referring Providers
The communications center can support the transport program as well as the admitting unit, by serving as a source for follow-up information for referring providers. Consideration should be given to sending a written or electronic communication at the completion of each transport to inform the referring physician of necessary interventions during transport, the patient's safe arrival and subsequent disposition.
Although Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA [Pub L No. 104-191]) regulations might prevent sharing of certain medical information without the explicit written consent of the patient or parent, the practice of providing follow-up for referring physicians is important to education, quality improvement processes, and perhaps, financial aspects of patient transports. When communicating in writing with referring physicians, the receiving facility must take appropriate safeguards to ensure that a patient's personal health information is protected. An alternative is to provide the referring physician with contact information for the receiving unit and/or attending physician for follow-up. The Air Medical Physician Association has published a position statement on the issue of patient follow-up letters and HIPAA. A sample of correspondence for a referring physician is shown in Fig 5.5.
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