Avoiding HIPAA Violations
By Michael L. Smith, JD, RRT Every respiratory therapist knows that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires hospitals and health care providers to maintain the confidentiality of their patients’ protected health information (PHI). RTs may not know that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is […]
Patient-supplied Respiratory Equipment in the Hospital
By Michael L. Smith, JD, RRT Hospitals and respiratory therapists regularly receive requests from patients asking to use their own respiratory therapy equipment in the hospital. Chronic pulmonary patients are generally reluctant to change their treatment regimen and may request they be permitted to continue using their home ventilators or positive airway pressure units in […]
Florida Respiratory Therapist Arrested for Alleged Elder Abuse
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law A Lee County, Florida, registered respiratory therapist at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida, was arrested and charged with battery on an elderly patient. The respiratory therapist was arrested by the Attorney General’s (AG) Medicaid Fraud Control […]