[BostonCard]

HIPAA, general expectations of privacy in the USA, and our fragmented healthcare system make that more difficult than you might guess.   In the USA it is more than possible for a physician in a hospital to not know a lot about a patient's long term medical history. 

HIPAA just prevents disclosure of personally identifying information.

This includes common identifiers such as full name, date of birth, street or email address, and biometric data.

Additional direct indicators could include:
Maiden name and mother’s maiden name
Alias
Fingerprint and voice print
Telephone and fax number
Social security number
Passport number
Driver’s license number
Taxpayer identification number
Financial accounts/records
Account numbers
Credit card/debit number
Medical/health records
IP and MAC address
Personal property records
Vehicle registration/title
License plate number
Full-face photograph
Employment records
Education records

None of this information is needed to figure out how many patients within a particular age group (so long as it doesn't narrow it down to date of birth) with particular co-morbidities, die.

BC

[BostonCard]

HIPAA, general expectations of privacy in the USA, and our fragmented healthcare system make that more difficult than you might guess.   In the USA it is more than possible for a physician in a hospital to not know a lot about a patient's long term medical history. 

HIPAA just prevents disclosure of personally identifying information.

This includes common identifiers such as full name, date of birth, street or email address, and biometric data.

Additional direct indicators could include:
Maiden name and mother’s maiden name
Alias
Fingerprint and voice print
Telephone and fax number
Social security number
Passport number
Driver’s license number
Taxpayer identification number
Financial accounts/records
Account numbers
Credit card/debit number
Medical/health records
IP and MAC address
Personal property records
Vehicle registration/title
License plate number
Full-face photograph
Employment records
Education records

None of this information is needed to figure out how many patients within a particular age group (so long as it doesn't narrow it down to date of birth) with particular co-morbidities, die.

BC