Effort attempts to add Ohio data to national EMS database

The state emergency medical services board is pushing the General Assemebly to repeal a 1992 law that prohibits the state from sending information to a federal database of EMS runs (Source: “Ohio not part of federal database on EMS runs,” Columbus Dispatch, Jan. 4, 2012).

The Ohio Hospital Association lobbied for the law 20 years ago, citing concerns about keeping individual names of providers confidential in the public trauma registry. A repeal would likely stipulate that individual hospital names would not be included in the database, but would identify ambulance agencies agencies for accurate groupings and to compare services within the state and against other states, though the names would be kept confidential. OHA officals have indicated that if individual hospitals were not named, it would not oppose repeal legislation.

“Ohio has been [and EMS] leader for years and wants to submit data, but their statute prohibits them,” said Karen Jacobson, director of the national information system.

As part of its recently adopted three-year strategic plan, HPIO has identified four strategic objectives, one of which is developing tools for improved Ohio health system data transparency. To learn more about the Institute's work with data transparency, please visit www.hpio.net/transparency.