Hi Pat;

You don't need to justify what you need to do or why you need to do it.

If someone is not happy with your organization practices then, he shouldn't
join the organization.

In other words:

"HE WHO LIVES IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROUGH STONES".

73 De Anthony W2AJV
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ECHOLINK NODE NUMBER: 74389

----- Original Message -----
From: "Handiham" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2004 9:20 PM
Subject: Re: new handiham paperwork


> We don't have any choice but to be part of Courage Center, so that is a
moot
> point, but when you think about it, we do serve people who might have to
> qualify for services by proving what might be a sensitive medical issue
for
> them. It would simply not do for a staff member to tell someone else about
> that member's condition without permission. Also, we serve people directly
> at our Radio Camps and have to take care of their personal care needs,
like
> toileting.  Although no one on our staff would ever tell someone who has
no
> business knowing that someone else uses a catheter or some such thing, the
> law does go to somewhat ridiculous lengths in what it considers
"private" -
> even just a name in some cases.  This has led to odd problems in other
> health care related activities, like hospitals refusing to let visitors
from
> a patient's church even know they are there when they might welcome a
visit,
> or not being allowed to mention someone's name in the doctor's waiting
room.
> Since we often need to connect hams who need help with an Elmer who can do
> something like set up a radio or run wires, we ask that the member sign
off
> on the privacy forms. But we still ask the member even then if they want
us
> to do so. It helps to be able to tell a potential helper that so-and-so
> needs to have some screenreader help and he is used to using screen
> enlargement, but wants to try JAWS, etc., etc.
>
> The electronic forms thing is interesting, but not yet applicable to this
> HIPAA deal. We do also have to look for proof of disability, so that we
know
> we are truly serving the people we are meant to serve, much like the
Library
> of Congress.  I wish the electronic filing could be further developed, as
it
> shows greater promise of accessibility to everyone.  I just took my son
> Will, KC0LJL, in for his driver's permit and you wouldn't believe the
paper
> forms necessary, including two forms of paper identification!  If you are
> blind and go in for an I.D., it's the same deal.  If you get a
prescription
> at the drug store or go to the dentist you still have to sign paper for
> HIPAA, with the possible exception of those places that collect signatures
> from digital writing screens, but that's tied directly to their computer
> system right in the store, so it is hardly a great leap forward in digital
> documentation or accessibility.
>
> Anyway, the Handiham process is quite simple if one just fills out just
the
> main member form. Nancy will fill it out on the phone and send you a
filled
> out copy to sign. You can still get many services, but just not those that
> require us to share your name (such as if you go to Radio Camp, because we
> have a class photo and an address list campers get to share with each
> other.) We accept things like NFB and ACB memberships as proof of
blindness
> - very simple.
>
> Regards,
>
> Patrick Tice
> [log in to unmask]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> <snip>
>