St. E’s, St. Joe’s no longer giving out patient info related to crimes/trauma

YOUNGSTOWN — Effective immediately, no condition information can be released regarding a crime and/or trauma patient being treated at, or admitted to, St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center or St. Joseph Health Center in Warren, said Tina Creighton, senior public relations specialist.

Humility of Mary Health Partners is required by law to follow the guidelines outlined by the Health Information Protection and Portability Act. Those guidelines provide health-care facilities the discretion to limit patient information when it is in the best interest of protecting the privacy of the patient.

Because trauma patients often are not able to fully comprehend their disclosure rights under HIPPA, this change is being implemented to better protect the rights of the patients and their families, Creighton added.