[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 222 (Tuesday, November 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61495-61497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30171]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of an altered record system.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force proposes to alter a system of 
records notice in its inventory of record systems subject to the 
Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.
DATES: The alteration will be effective on December 18, 1997, unless 
comments are received that would result in a contrary determination.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Air Force Access Programs Manager, 
Headquarters, Air Force Communications and Information Center/ITC, 1250 
Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-1250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Anne Rollins at (703) 697-8674 or 
DSN 227-8674.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Navy's record system 
notices for records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 
U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the Federal Register 
and are available from the address above.
    The proposed altered system report, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) 
of the Privacy Act was submitted on November 3, 1997, to the House

[[Page 61496]]

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the Senate Committee on 
Governmental Affairs, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130, 
`Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About 
Individuals,' dated February 8, 1996, (61 FR 6427, February 20, 1996).

    Dated: November 10, 1997.
L. M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
F044 AF SG K

system name:
    Medical Professional Staffing Records (June 11, 1997, 62 FR 31793).

changes:
* * * * *

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and the purposes of such uses:
    Add a new paragraph `Records concerning civilian consultants or 
contractors who engage in direct patient care may be released to 
civilian organizations employing said civilian consultants or 
contractors providing direct patient care to eligible beneficiaries if 
such records are necessary to evaluate the civilian consultant or 
contractor in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1102(c)(E).'
* * * * *
F044 AF SG K

System name:
    Medical Professional Staffing Records.

System location:
    At Air Force medical centers, hospitals, and clinics; all health 
facilities where graduate health education programs are conducted; 
reserve NAFs/Surgeon's Office; reserve tactical hospitals/clinics, 
reserve MSES, and reserve AAG medical elements.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    Practitioners, who are, or have been, members of the USAF Medical 
Service, Civil Service Employees (including civilian consultants who 
engage in direct patient care), or contractors who are assigned to, 
employed by, or practice in the Air Force medical facility for the 
purpose of providing health services for eligible beneficiaries; United 
States Air Force Medical Service personnel pursuing graduate health 
education programs.

Categories of records in the system:
    (1) Credential review files: Contains curriculum vitae, list of 
approved privileges, copies of diplomas and certificates, records of 
continuing health education training, letters of evaluation, summaries 
of special activities or other information, including malpractice 
claims reports, furnished or solicited in order to fully evaluate the 
professional qualifications of individuals, and the records of any 
actions taken on the individual's credentials.
    (2) Health education records: Applications for training, training 
reports, Faculty Board reports, photograph or negative, and personnel 
documents related to training.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    10 U.S.C. Chapter 55, Medical and Dental Care; medical specialists, 
as implemented by Air Force Instruction 44-119, Quality Assurance in 
the Air Force Medical Service.

Purpose(s):
    The information contained in credential review files is used to 
award, limit, suspend, restrict or revoke the inpatient and ambulatory 
clinical privileges to all categories of health practitioners.
    Health education records are used to permit evaluations of 
individuals in training, by program directors, in managing the 
individual in training; by the record maintenance personnel, to 
document changes to the individual's personnel record maintained by the 
servicing Consolidated Base Personnel Office (CBPO).

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and the purposes of such uses:
    In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 
552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained 
therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:
    The information may also be released to a governmental board or 
agency or health care professional society or organization if such 
record of document is needed to perform licensing or professional 
standards monitoring related to health care practitioners who are or 
were formerly members, employees of the Armed Forces, or contractors, 
and to medical institutions or organizations wherein such member, 
employee or contractor has applied for or been granted authority or 
employment to provide health care services if such record or document 
is needed to assess the professional qualifications of such member or 
employee.
    Records concerning civilian consultants or contractors who engage 
in direct patient care may be released to civilian organizations 
employing said civilian consultants or contractors providing direct 
patient care to eligible beneficiaries if such records are necessary to 
evaluate the civilian consultant or contractor in accordance with 10 
U.S.C. 1102(c)(E).
    The `Blanket Routine Uses' published at the beginning of the Air 
Force's compilation of systems of records notices apply to this system.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Maintained in file folders and visible file binders/cabinets.

Retrievability:
    Retrieved by name.

Safeguards:
    Records are accessed by custodian of the record system, by 
person(s) responsible for servicing the record system in performance of 
their official duties; by commanders of USAF medical centers hospitals 
and clinics (credential review files); by program directors, trainees 
and personnel managers with the need-to-know (health education 
records).

Retention and disposal:
    (1) Credential review files are retained in the office files of the 
medical facility where the practitioner is assigned, employed, or 
practicing. Following separation, resignation, or retirement, the files 
are retained at the location of the last duty assignment for a period 
of 3 years and then are destroyed.
    (2) Health education files are retained by the director of health 
education until training is completed, files are then kept by the 
health facility for 30 years and then destroyed by tearing into pieces, 
shredding, pulping, macerating, or burning; if facility is deactivated, 
the records are retired to the Washington National Records Center, 
Washington, DC 20409 to be retained until the 30-year period has 
expired at which time they will be destroyed.

System manager(s) and address:
    The Surgeon General, Headquarters, United States Air Force; 
Commanders of medical centers, hospitals, clinics. Official mailing 
addresses are published as an appendix to the Air Force's compilation 
of systems of records notices.

[[Page 61497]]

    For health education records, individuals should give full name, 
military status, Social Security Number, when they entered training and 
completed training, and what corps within the medical service they are 
a member. Individuals may visit either the health facility maintaining 
the records or the Office of the Surgeon, Air Force Manpower and 
Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, TX to learn if the record 
system contains their records. When visiting either of these locations, 
the individual must provide a valid drivers license or equivalent 
identification containing a photograph to establish identity.

Notification procedure:
    Individuals seeking to determine whether information about 
themselves is contained in this system should address written inquiries 
to or visit the system manager.

Record access procedures:
    Individuals seeking access to information about themselves 
contained in this system should address written inquiries to or visit 
the system manager. For health education records, individual may obtain 
assistance by writing or presenting themselves in person to the health 
facility where the records are maintained. Official mailing addresses 
are published as an appendix to the Air Force's compilation of systems 
of records notices.

Contesting record procedures:
    The Air Force rules for accessing records, and for contesting 
contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in 
Air Force Instruction 37-132; 32 CFR part 806b; or may be obtained from 
the system manager.

Record source categories:
    Credential review files: Basic information submitted by the 
practitioner. Additional information may be solicited from other 
sources in order to permit the credentials committee to best judge the 
capabilities of the practitioner. Health education records: Previous 
employer, educational institutions, master personnel record, 
information provided by the individual concerned.

Exemptions claimed for the system:
    None.
[FR Doc. 97-30171 Filed 11-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-F