ED record anonymization is the removal of IDs from an ED visit — triage, exam, and disposition. It meets the HIPAA Privacy Rule (45 CFR Part 164). anonym.plus works locally and keeps the time-stamped course intact.
When this applies
ED files are fast and ID-heavy: arrival mode, triage name, times, and disposition. For flow analysis or teaching, strip the IDs but keep the timeline.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Load the ED file into anonym.plus on your device.
- It finds triage, visit, and disposition IDs.
- Shift arrival and exit times while you keep the gaps.
- Swap or black out the confirmed PHI.
- Save the clean ED file on your device.
What you need to provide
- The ED chart or triage file (PDF, DOCX, or EHR export).
- A date-shift option to keep elapsed-time analysis.
- An operator to suit the later use.
PHI entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | K. Berg → [PATIENT] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | 21:14 03/02 → shifted [DATETIME] |
| Record IDs | MEDICAL_RECORD_NUMBER | ED visit 9921 → [VISIT] |
| Location | LOCATION | 5 Lindenweg → [ADDRESS] |
| Contact | PHONE_NUMBER | 0151-... → [PHONE] |
| Names | PERSON | EMS crew → [STAFF] |
Compliance achieved
- Meets the HIPAA Privacy Rule (45 CFR Part 164) for reuse.
- Date-shift keeps time-to-treatment gaps for analysis.
- Offline work keeps ED data on-site.
Anonymize ED records offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
ED text often holds incident places and bystander names, which are indirect clues. Date-shift keeps the gaps but breaks links to outside logs, like EMS times, unless you shift those by the same offset too.
Frequently asked questions
How does date-shift keep ED data useful?
Each file's dates move by one steady offset. The minutes between arrival, exam, and exit stay, so flow analysis works while the real times are hidden.
Are EMS and bystander names removed?
Yes. Anyone named in the file can be flagged and swapped, not just the patient.
Can I clean a batch of ED visits at once?
Yes. Point anonym.plus at a folder for steady local work.