Documentation question

[CareBearnurse]

This past summer I have worked with a first aider during weekend camping for girl scouts. This first aider is a former EMT, no longer certified. He also has impaired vision, so I do all the documentation, and have him co-sign for the care he has done. I know exaclty what he has done, because I have to supervise what he does due to his impaired vision. (I have had to correct some things he was doing). The question I have is this: As an EMT he said he made copies of ALL his treaments/reports, and one other EMT he worked with did the same. Now he wants me to make copies (hand written, we don't use computers) for each case we treat, and then keeps those copies at home. I do not want to do this for 2 reasons: A) I think it violates HIPPA laws, and B)This is not necessary. I document well, and then these records are kept and stored by the Girl Scout District, incase they need to be retrieved. So, I do NOT want to be copying a second page of these reports when it is not necessary. He wants to keep his copy so he can have them to bring forward should the original come to be needed. Have you ever heard of such a thing? I know in the hospital some nurses would keep their daily assignment sheets for the same reason. The thing is, I don't even think either of these would even be considered in court, if they were offered.

I would appreciate any suggetstions/thoughts about this.

Liz

[BonnieSc]

I agree with you, this could result in a HIPAA violation, because the information could easily fall into the wrong hands. I would not really be comfortable with this if I was the one being treated or the parent of one being treated. IMO, they would be welcome to take some notes like a personal journal, but not to take home copies of official documentation. And it's DEFINITELY not acceptable to ask you to do this.