[d-star] D-Star ready for Hospital EmComm?

[erik westgard]

Bill
FCC Part 97 does not allow payload encryption.  Every type of commercial and
government radio and data network supports encryption.  So under normal
conditions we can't (and should not) move patient specific medical
information.  We cannot see a lot of cases where this is needed.  Many many
non-physicians ask about this issue.  

In an emergency (possibly declared by the FCC) our D-Star DD Mode gear could
support payload encryption (i.e. SSH).  But we might want this clarified-
it's in the "any way any how" part of the law sort of.  

Given the seriousness of the penalties around HIPAA disclosure, (jail time)
most healthcare providers would (and don't) ask us to move this data.
Interestingly, St. Paul Fire uses a red/yellow/green nomenclature for
patient condition on their radios. 

I could only see this for hospital evacuations where you would want to move
condition info.

We use phone numbers as a record ID.

I should write an article for QST here and get the League/FCC to look at it.

Erik



-----Original Message-----
From: d-star-bounces at lists.twinslan.org
[mailto:d-star-bounces at lists.twinslan.org] On Behalf Of William Ward
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 11:43 AM
To: List for people interested in the D Star repeaters
Subject: Re: [d-star] D-Star ready for Hospital EmComm?

Question: I'm a member of the Kings County ARES group in NYC, and we  
recently met with the Red Cross communications volunteers here.  One  
of the topics that came up was how to protect confidential information  
digitally transmitted.  How did you solve confidentiality questions  
with your network?  This was specifically in the context of packet,  
and would apply to a D-STAR implementation as well.

Thanks for your advice.  What you're doing out there is very, very  
interesting.

Bill
KD4ISF


On Mar 22, 2009, at 11:32 AM, ewestgard at att.net wrote:

> Hi
> This is easy
>
> We currently and have operationally tested for two years under real  
> MCI conditions a fully redundant and survivable high speed data  
> radio network in the Twin Cities.  This network cannot be attacked  
> from outside our area.  We have four plus one active repeaters, and  
> can support Internet, and web based emcomm applications such as the  
> Red Cross Safe and Sound and the MDH Workspace.  The State EOC has  
> our gear, and it has been promoted as the standard for all of the  
> larger mobile communications assets.    Ramset County, and Hennepin  
> County have our gear installed and in the hands of their Emcomm  
> Teams.  The 2007 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon (D-Star) handled a  
> similar number of patient transports as the 35W Bridge Collapse.
>
> John Dooley as the State Comms Officer in DEM is telling his agency  
> we are the planned backup messaging, mail and IP services network  
> backup if the commercial services fail.
>
>
>
>
> -------------- Original message from Dave Johnson  
> <n0kbd1 at gmail.com>: --------------
>
>
>> My contact at HCMC says he has the money to equip the hospital if  
>> it can
>> be operationally justified. What do you think? Besides DEM, and a few
>> amateurs, who else is on D-Star network in the TC.
>>
>> -------
>> Dave Johnson N0KBD
>> n0kbd at arrl.net
>> http://www.n0kbd.com
>>
>>
>>
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