Medical emergencies account for over 70% of the department’s total emergency calls. The department has four advanced life support (ALS) ambulances stationed throughout our district, each of which carries the latest in state-of-the-art equipment. Emergency ambulance service is fee-free for residents of the fire district, and they will also respond to neighboring communities for mutual aid as requested and available.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire is proud of the high level of medical services they have to offer. In 1980, Harlem-Roscoe became the first volunteer fire service with a state certified paramedic in the area. They now staff two ALS ambulances 24/7. There are also EMTs and firefighters scheduled on all duty shifts, which are backed up by the volunteer EMTs and firefighters working from all three stations in the district. All EMS personnel are highly trained and truly dedicated to seeing that the residents receive the very best care possible: emphasizing proficiency, compassion and dignity.

Celebrating EMS WEEK May 16 - May 22, 2010

"May is the the month that we recognize and celebrate those in EMS (Emergency Medical Services). It is the commitment and dedication of all the personnel that make us second to none. We are proud of them for going above and beyond the call of duty. Our communities deserve the best, and all of them have seen that they receive it! Thank you to the following EMS personnel that serve Harlem-Roscoe." Chief Don Shoevlin

EMT-Paramedics: Jay Alms, Ramona Baldoni-Lake, John Bergeron, Rob Gonia, Chris Kaiser, Jerry McCormick, Mike Morrison, Mike Powell, John Presley, Zak Prielipp, John Morgan, and Keith Lincoln.

EMT - Bs: Tom Aaker, Ryan Alms, Adam Arnould, Tim Bergeron, Jeff Brandenburg, Adam Cox, John Donovan, Adam Eich, Chris Farr, Josh Hoffland, Mike Huffman, Radi Huggard, Scott Jensen, Gina Kaiser, Ron Klaman, Bryson Knox, Joe Koeninger, Tom Lake, Randy Lovelace, Rob Lukowski, Jeff Morris, Maurice Radke, Mark Schafman, Eric Schweitzer, Mike Sherbon, Don Shoevlin, Steve Shoevlin, Mark Soppe, Brandon Tietz, Greg Wernick, and Christi Wilson.

PATIENT'S HEALTH INFORMATION PRIVACY RIGHTS

1. Patients have the right to receive and review a copy of HRFPD Health Information Privacy Policy.
2. Patients may request that certain information not be disclosed to designated parties.
3. Patients may request that they be contacted only at a designated alternative address other than their home address.
4. Patients may make reasonable request of HRFPD as to time and place for a copy of their Protected Health Information (PHI), subject to a copying and mailing expense fee.
5. Patients have the right to request a correction of actual errors in the PHI.
6. Patients have the right, upon request, to be informed of disclosures of PHI by court orders, investigations and subpoenas.
7. Patients have a right to revoke, in writing, prior consents to disclosure of PHI.
8. Parents of minors or legal guardians can sign the release or acknowledgment of Notice of Disclosure form for their children and/or legal wards.

PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI) PRIVACY POLICY PURSUANT TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABLITY AND ACCOUNTABLITY ACT.

1. No member of the HRFPD shall disclose any Patient's Health Information in violation of the patient's privacy rights.
2. All patients shall be asked to sign the HRFPD Notice of Disclosure, Release of Medical Information, and Notice of HRFPD Protected Health Information (PHI) Privacy Police form, hereinafter referred to as the PHI form. If a patient refuses to sign or is unable to sign the PHI form, a witness should be obtained in writing to the request to sign and refusal or inability to sign by the patient. If the patient is advised of the PHI Notice and Policy and refuses to sign or is unable to sign before a witness in writing, they still have received the PHI notice.
3. All signed or witnessed PHI documents must be retained for six years. All PHI documents must be maintained in lockable and secure storage.
4. The parent of a minor child or guardian of a legally disabled patient may sign the PHI form on behalf of the patient.
5. All disclosure of patient PHI shall be limited to persons and business associates (BA) within HRFPD treatment, payment and healthcare operation (TPO) and shall be based upon notice or consent obtained prior to providing care, except for the following circumstances where disclosure of health information may be made for TPO purposes prior to obtaining written consent or notice:

   • In the case of an emergency as determined by the healthcare provider on the scene, using his or her "professional judgment" as defined and included in the Department of Health and Human Services HIPAA Standards: "Healthcare providers must exercise professional judgment to determine whether obtaining a written consent (or now a signed notice) would interfere with the timely delivery of necessary healthcare. If, based on professional judgment, a provider reasonably believes at the time the patient presents for treatment that a delay involved in obtaining the patient's written consent of use or disclosure of information would compromise the patient's care, the provider may use or disclose PHI that was obtained during the emergency treatment, without prior consent, to carry out TPO."; or
   • When required by law, such as in the case of receipt of lawful subpoena or court order of proper jurisdiction; or
   • When there are substantial communication barriers.
     Notwithstanding the above exceptions to prior notice or consent, the provider must attempt to obtain written acknowledgment of notice and consent as soon as reasonably practicable after the provision of treatment.
6. HRFPD must secure prior authorization to disclose PHI to a patient's employer or attorney before disclosure.
7. All disclosures, when made, are to disclose the least amount of PHI necessary for the purpose.
8. Any PHI used for training purposes, or given as an example, must be de-identified by removal of the patient's name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, dates of treatment, telephone/fax numbers, invoice/account number, health insurance number, driver's or vehicle license numbers, codes, pictures, fingerprints, or any other identifying features or information.
9. No disclosure to any business associate (BA) shall be made without a prior written contract between HRFPD and the BA obligating that BA to fully comply with the Privacy Policy and insure nondisclosure of PHI except for purposes of compliance with the TPO and requiring the BA to promptly notify the HRFPD of any violations of that Privacy Policy.
10. The Fire Chief shall appoint a Privacy Policy Compliance Officer to implement, oversee and train as to the HRFPD Privacy Police. All HRFPD personnel are to receive Privacy Policy training annually appropriate to each person's function with the HRFPD. The Privacy Police Officer shall insure that records of personal privacy training shall be maintained and that PHI records maintained by HRFPD shall be kept secure against unauthorized disclosure.
11. The Fire Chief shall appoint a Privacy Policy Complaint Officer who shall be designated to receive, document, investigate and resolve complaints alleging violation of patient privacy rights. All violations of the Privacy Policy and resolutions therefore shall be reported in writing to the Fire Chief as soon as practicably possible. Upon receipt of such written report, the Fire Chief shall present said written report to the Board of Trustees in such a form and manner as not to cause further violation of the Privacy Policy.
12. Any HRFPD personnel found to have violated the Privacy Policy shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions up to and including suspension or discharge as appropriate to the circumstances of the unauthorized disclosure. Such disciplinary action shall be by the majority vote of the Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the Fire Chief.
13. All persons or entities acting as billing agents for HRFPD (Business Associates) shall be provide a copy of this PHI privacy policy and shall be required and expected to conform to the requirements hereof as well as the requirements and spirit of all federal and state laws appertaining to patient's privacy rights. Furthermore, said business associates shall be required to notify HRFPD of any actual or suspected violation of a patient's privacy rights and the privacy policy. Upon notice of violation of patient's privacy rights, the HRFPD shall take action as reasonably necessary and appropriate to avoid future violations.
14. A copy of this HRFPD Privacy Policy shall be given to each volunteer and, in addition, be posted and kept posted in public view at all times in the general personnel areas of the fire station as well as the HRFPD website, if any.
15. This Privacy Police shall be in full force and effect immediately upon approval of the HRFPD Board of Trustees.

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