Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

When communicating with a physician over the radio, what is one piece of information you are not permitted to disclose?

1. The patient's diagnosis

2. The hospital destination

3. The patient's name

4. The treatment plan

The correct answer is: The patient's name

In medical communications, particularly when communicating over radio, protecting patient privacy is paramount. Disclosing a patient's name violates confidentiality laws, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which mandates the protection of personal health information. This law is designed to ensure that sensitive patient information is not shared without consent. While other elements of patient information, such as a diagnosis, hospital destination, or treatment plan, may be relevant for the physician in assessing the patient's care and needs, fully revealing the identity of the patient is not permissible unless there is a specific and lawful reason to share that information. Emphasizing the protection of patient identity helps maintain trust in the healthcare system and complies with legal requirements for privacy.