Privacy Policy.

West Coast Ambulance ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal and medical information. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you use our medical transport services or visit our website.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you request transport services or interact with our company, we may collect:

• Full name, date of birth, and contact information (phone number, email, address)
• Emergency contact information
• Insurance information (policy numbers, group numbers, subscriber details)

Medical Information

To provide safe and appropriate medical transport, we may collect:

• Current medical condition and reason for transport
• Level of care requirements (wheelchair, stretcher, BLS, CCT)
• Medications, allergies, and relevant medical history
• Special transport needs (oxygen, bariatric equipment, isolation precautions)
• Vital signs and clinical assessments performed during transport

Billing Information

• Insurance provider and policy details
• Facility billing account information
• Payment method details for private-pay services

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Providing medical transport services, including dispatching appropriate crews and equipment
• Communicating with you about scheduled transports, ETAs, and service updates
• Billing and insurance claims processing
• Coordinating care with referring and receiving healthcare facilities
• Maintaining clinical records and electronic patient care reports (ePCRs)
• Quality assurance, training, and safety improvement
• Complying with legal and regulatory requirements

HIPAA Compliance

West Coast Ambulance is a HIPAA-covered entity. We comply fully with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the HITECH Act, including:

• Maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Implementing administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect PHI
• Training all employees on HIPAA privacy and security requirements
• Providing patients with a Notice of Privacy Practices upon request
• Appointing a designated Privacy Officer to oversee compliance

We only use and disclose PHI as permitted or required under HIPAA for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, or with your written authorization.

Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal or medical information. We may share information only with:

• Healthcare facilities involved in your care (referring and receiving hospitals, clinics, SNFs)
• Insurance companies and payers for billing and claims purposes
• Medical oversight personnel, including our Medical Director
• Government agencies as required by law (e.g., public health reporting, regulatory audits)
• Law enforcement when required by court order or subpoena
• Business associates who are contractually bound to protect your information under HIPAA

Data Security

We take the security of your information seriously and implement measures including:

• Encryption of electronic health records and PHI in transit and at rest
• Role-based access controls limiting information access to authorized personnel
• Secure, HIPAA-compliant electronic patient care report (ePCR) systems
• Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Mandatory employee training on data security and HIPAA compliance
• Physical safeguards for paper records, including locked storage and controlled access

Your Rights

Under HIPAA and applicable state laws, you have the right to:

• Access and obtain copies of your medical and transport records
• Request corrections to inaccurate information in your records
• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your PHI
• Receive an accounting of disclosures of your PHI
• Request confidential communications (e.g., contact at a specific phone number)
• File a complaint with us or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Website Information

When you visit our website, we may collect standard web analytics data such as browser type, pages visited, and referring URLs. This information is used solely to improve our website experience and is not linked to personal health information.

Contact for Privacy Concerns