West Coast EMT Block One Exam

To protect a patient's privacy during a radio report, you should do what?

1. Not disclose the patient's name

2. Refrain from objective statements

3. Withhold medical history data

4. Use coded medical language

The correct answer is: Not disclose the patient's name

The correct approach to protect a patient's privacy during a radio report involves not disclosing the patient's name. This is because patient confidentiality is a critical aspect of medical ethics and legal obligations. By avoiding the revelation of a patient's identity, you help ensure that their personal health information remains secure and is only shared with authorized individuals. This practice aligns with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations designed to protect patient information. While refraining from objective statements, withholding medical history data, and using coded medical language may be relevant to maintaining confidentiality, they do not directly address the importance of safeguarding personal identifiers such as the patient's name. The primary focus in a radio report should always be to ensure that identifiable information is kept private to protect the patient's rights and privacy.