...Health Record (EHR) system reveals a lack of basic policies and standards to protect EHR data from misuse, abuse or theft. The He a l t h I n s u r a n c e P o r t a b i l i t y a n d Accountability Act (HIPAA) require protection of EHR data and basic security guidance to adequately safeguard this data from threats of misuse and/or t h e f t . T h o m a s J . S m e d i n g h o f f q u o t e s H P A A l a w 42 USC Section 1320d-2(d)(2) t h a t establishes three basic security principles “maintain reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguard”. (Smedinghoff, T. (2008)) A r e a s o n a b l e a t t e m p t to provide safeguards and follow excepted standards for security can be found in the HIPAA Security Guidance, National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) documents, and the SANS Institute policies. The security goal is to provide confidentiality, integrity, and availability of EHR i n f o r m a t i o n . (Smedinghoff, T. (2008)) The policies created below are to address weaknesses in the current system and provide direction on how to meet industry standards and legal requirements. A. Create three organizational policy statements: HIPAA suggests a three prone approach; physical security, technical security, and administrative security. This document will cover organizational policies for each of the three categories based on best practices and national standards such as NIST. a. Administrative security: A written policy stating procedures...
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...audit of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system reveals a lack of basic policies and standards to protect EHR data from misuse, abuse or theft. The He a l t h I n s u r a n c e P o r t a b i l i t y a n d Accountability Act (HIPAA) require protection of EHR data and basic security guidance to adequately safeguard this data from threats of misuse and/or t h e f t . T h o m a s J . S m e d i n g h o f f q u o t e s H P A A l a w 42 USC Section 1320d-2(d)(2) t h a t establishes three basic security principles “maintain reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguard”. (Smedinghoff, T. (2008)) A r e a s o n a b l e a t t e m p t to provide safeguards and follow excepted standards for security can be found in the HIPAA Security Guidance, National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) documents, and the SANS Institute policies. The security goal is to provide confidentiality, integrity, and availability of EHR i n f o r m a t i o n . (Smedinghoff, T. (2008)) The policies created below are to address weaknesses in the current system and provide direction on how to meet industry standards and legal requirements. A. Create three organizational policy statements: HIPAA suggests a three prone approach; physical security, technical security, and administrative security. This document will cover organizational policies for each of the three categories based on ...
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...The only classifier and nomenclature in use was local version of ICD9. Therefore the implementation team faced the challenge of bringing existing or creating new localized classifiers, nomenclatures and standardized clinical documents. This major project risk was addressed by the MOH by establishing a clinical documentation and standardization working group with appropriate decisive powers which agreed to benefit from existing industry standards and EU recommendations. In result, the unified content of the EHR solution consists of documents that are composed from codified data elements from nationally agreed code systems. The internal organisation of the main documents, such as discharge summary, outpatient visit summary, etc. follows the recommendation for patient summary documents outlined by the EU [9, 10] and IHE content profiles: MS, EDPN, TN, and IC. Following this principle, the core structured data elements, which require the use of vocabularies, nomenclatures and classifications, enable the semantic interoperability between health information systems. The final content and structure of the Electronic Health Record solution is still...
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...treatment and prevention of progression. According to Alsolamy et al. (2014), an electronic sepsis alert tool could help recognize early sepsis. Therefore, an understanding of the processes that surrounds the identification and management of sepsis can help electronic health record (EHR) designers, end-users, and quality auditors determine the most usable and efficient method. According to McGonigle and Mastrian (2015) workflow analysis involves the "observation and documentation to understand better what is happening in the current environment" (p. 266). This paper will examine the current early sepsis recognition process and determine if any opportunities for optimization...
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...qualify for HER certification, vendors had to meet more than 300 criteria devised by the Commission’s physicians, medical societies, vendors, and payer. Most of the requirements concerned HER functionality, security, and reliability. CCHIT, Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology, will ass new requirements for certification each year. Healthcare level H7, which is the application protocol for Electronic Data Exchange in healthcare environments, it is considered a gold standard benefit in the healthcare industry by helping answer question regarding EHR. EHR implementation should immediately determine how hardware and software are supported and by whom, regardless of which EHR a facility uses. Being a facilitator, the need for you to help integrate their EHRs into their workflow is important, mapping workflows will guide you in workflow direction for entry of documentation into the EHR...
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...overall healthcare industry. You will choose a healthcare profession (preferably, one that interests you because you will be spending a lot of time researching this profession). Then, you will apply concepts from this course as well as independent research to respond to a variety of questions about the profession. Finally, you will summarize your findings in either a PowerPoint presentation or a report. The Healthcare Professions Case Study assignment is broken up into four parts, summarized below: Assignment | Due Date | Part I: Identify a Healthcare Profession | Sunday of Week 1 | Part II: Certifications, Job Responsibilities and Career Possibilities | Sunday of Week 2 | Part III: Compliance, EHRs, and Interaction with Others | Sunday of Week 3 | Part IV: Research Summary | Sunday of Week 4 | ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Part I: Identify a Healthcare Profession (Complete and submit in Week 1) Choose a non-clinical healthcare profession, preferably, one that aligns with your career goals after graduation. Identify your chosen profession and why you chose it. Also, discuss what you may know about this specific profession within the healthcare industry, before you actually research it. Your response should be at least 150 words long. Click here to enter text. For your chosen healthcare profession, answer Questions 1-3 below. Your responses to these questions should be at least 200 words combined...
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...Introduction Having accurate and timely information available to medical personnel is critical in providing quality healthcare. With the increased demand of mobilizing health care information, health information exchanges (HIEs) were established. The healthcare information exchange was designed to allow patient information be electronically accessible across an organization, region, community or hospital system. (1) The initial concept of HIE was to reduce cost of patient care, improve speed, quality and safety of medical information. (2) Background Over the past few year’s health information technology landscape has experienced rapid change. In the 1990s Regional and community Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) were created in many states. These RHIOs are the building blocks in developing a national network. The Office of National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology was created in 2004. The ONC is currently collaborating with RHIOs in an effort to implement and use the most advanced health information technology and the exchange of health information. (4) Since there are multiple exchanges, varying standards and architecture, the ability to establish uniform data and transmission standards has been difficult. Thus the ONC is still in the process of collaborating working on developing standards and compliance monitoring programs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has supported state and regional coordination of health care...
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...Health and the Health Care System Appendix A: Performance Measures Appendix B: Programs, Initiatives, and Federal Engagement Appendix C: HIT Standards and HIT Policy Committees Information Flow Appendix E: Statutes and Regulations Appendix F: Goals, Objectives, and Strategies Appendix G: Acronyms ONC Acknowledgements Notes 3 6 7 8 21 28 36 49 51 65 67 70 74 77 77 78 Goal V: Achieve Rapid Learning and Technological Advancement 43 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan 3 Introduction he technologies collectively known as health information technology (health IT) share a common attribute: they enable the secure collection and exchange of vast amounts of health data about individuals. The collection and movement of this data will power the health care of the future. Health IT has the potential to empower individuals and increase transparency; enhance the ability to study care delivery and payment systems; and ultimately achieve improvements in care, efficiency, and population health. However, these technologies – including electronic health records (EHRs), personal health records (PHRs), telehealth devices, remote monitoring technologies, and mobile health applications – are remarkably underutilized today. In 2010, only 25 percent of physician offices and 15 percent of acute care hospitals took advantage of EHRs. i...
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...Changing Paper Documentation to Electronic in Healthcare Name Institution Date Introduction Changing from paper documentation to electronic documentation is just like switching from analog to digital television. Rigidity in institutions may prevail but at the end all the institutions conform to one documentation method the electronic documentation. An electronic document is any media content other than computer system files or programs used in either soft copy form or paper as a print out (Yu, 2006). With technological advancement, the use of written documents has reduced because it has become easier to distribute and display documents in screens (AWARE, 2005). The method has an impact on reducing paperwork and space for storage of these materials. Documentation of activities involving purchases, sales, distribution, drug administration, patient health record, finance and other relevant activities of any organization is a primary issue in maintaining efficiency in operations (AHIMA, 2010). The use of paper documentation is somehow a far behind the method and rather tedious and inefficient. A more reliable and efficient way of keeping health records is thus a necessary change that may help reduce the demerits associated with the paper documentation method. Technologically advancement has brought with it more efficient and easy way to record and maintain a company or organization’s documents (AWARE, 2005). Changing from paper to electronic file documentation is thus a primary...
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...certified electronic health record (EHR) technology to help facilitate the process of broadening health IT infrastructures. The federal government views EHR system used in meaningful ways as the key to reforming the healthcare systems. Meaningful use of the EHR systems can also improve the overall quality of healthcare, insure patient safety, as well as reduce the cost of healthcare to individuals (Bigalke & Morris, 2010, p. 116). The responsibility of employing the new EHR Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs has been given to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. CMS established and launched standards and managed the implementation specifications. CMS also oversaw the certification criteria, including the certification process for the EHR technology. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also insured the safety of the patients by establishing privacy and security protections under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act (Burchill, 2010, p. 232). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provided incentive payments to eligible professionals and hospitals that are determined to be meaningful users of a certified EHR program. According to an article by Jones, Heaton, Friedberg, and Schneider (2011) incentives totals may add up to $27 billion dollars between the years 2011-2016. Implementing electronic health record systems (EHR) is simply not enough to qualify...
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...EMR Research & Opinion Paper Produced by: Jeremy Averella EMR Course Fall 2013 EMR Research & Opinion Paper Produced by: Jeremy Averella EMR Course Fall 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Advantages of EHRs 2 a. Cost Containment 2 b. Empowerment 3 c. Improved Communication 4 d. Less Waste 4 e. Compliance 5 II. Disadvantages of EHRs 6 a. Lack of Standardization 6 b. Security & Privacy Concerns 7 c. System Infrastructure Issues 8 d. Risk of Liability and Patient Uncertainty 8 III. EHR Technology 9 a. EHR Benefits 10 b. EHR Types 11 c. EHRs Future Evolution 13 d. EHR Technology versus Handheld SMART devices 14 IV. Trends and Consequences 15 a. Aggressive Implementation 16 b. High Costs 16 c. Labor Investment 17 d. Opportunity Cost 17 e. Impact on Researchers, Policymaker and Educators 18 V. Final Opinion 19 VI. Bibliography 22 VII. Appendix I 28 VIII. Appendix II 31 I. Advantages of EHRs In an effort to reign in rising health care costs and increased health care disparity and inequality in the U.S., former president George W. Bush doubled the funding for Health Care Information Technology to 100 million in 2005 (The White House). It was part of a larger plan to utilize latest information technology to standardize patient and health records, which despite spending 1.6 trillion dollars, attributed to 98,000 medically related errors in 2004. The plan was part of his campaign promise and was reiterated in his January 20...
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...Informatics Needs Assessment Marisa Mox HSN/375 February 6, 2016 Suzanne Spradley Informatics Needs Assessment The informatics needs assessment is an essential first step in the selection and implementation of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) for a healthcare workplace. This paper will address the purpose of a needs assessment and factors that need to be considered in the needs assessment. Additionally, this paper will explore the types of data that need to be collected and how and where that data can be accessed. This paper will also describe who should be consulted and the rationale why. Finally, this paper will include how the information from the needs assessment could be organized and presented to upper management. The purpose of a needs assessment is to “determine the gap between the organization’s current state and the overall needs of the organization” (Hebda & Czar, 2013). Specifically an informatics needs assessment will assist in selecting the electronic health record that will fit the needs of the organization. This involves putting together the data and information important to the organizations goal (Sewell & Thede, 2013). A needs assessment is an excellent tool for a facility to determine how to move from where they are to where they want to be. Several factors need to be considered when conducting a needs assessment. It is important to determine who has identified the need for an electronic record and to get their input. Did the request...
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...Comparing and contrasting Sentara Health System 2010 and Eastern Maine Medical Center 2008 Davies Organizational Award Minerva Ndikum Medical Informatics 6208 DE PhD Philip Aspden This paper compares and contrasts eight different views of two winners of Davies enterprise award. The HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies award recognizes excellence in the implementation and use of health information technology, specifically electronic health records (EHRs), for healthcare organizations, private practices, public health systems, and community health organizations. The Award honors Dr. Nicholas E. Davies, an Atlanta-based practicing physician, president-elect of the American College of Physicians, and a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Improving the Patient Record, who died in 1991 in a plane crash. This paper will compare and contrast the eight difference, the process by which each organization decided to implement an EHR, the goals of each implementation, the governance process for planning and implementation and how stakeholders were involved in each case, the functionality that was implemented in each case, including clinical decision support tools and data sharing with external organizations, how security and data integrity issues were addressed in each case, how user satisfaction with the implementation in each case was addressed and give the results, and how each implementation’s success in meeting the original goals of Sentara healthcare...
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...about patients and treatments. This information, along with business and management information, is used to interpret how things are and to develop a better, more efficient and more cost effective method of operation. The big question is, how does healthcare informatics and technology effect or impact the development and implementation of healthcare law? One of the most effective technologies that has been widely adopted already is electronic health records. EHR are systems that track and record patient information. It also makes them more accessible and easier to share and communicate between doctors, patients and insurance companies. Electronic health records help control costs effectiveness of an organization by communicating information in a timely manner and helps secure payments more effectively than paper billing. With all of the changes and easier access to a patient’s confidential records, obviously healthcare laws and regulations would change in order to protect patient safety. With the positive effects of EHR, it also...
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...Many of the benefits of EHR are the security of protected electronic health information and the opportunity to effectively meet the mandates of privacy and security of patient information. By properly ensuring the vendor can meet the organizations required level of compliance and provide a level of trust the organization needs, the transition to electronic health records is easier for the organization and its customers. That combined with the feeling of security meeting federal mandates is comforting. Another opportunity is that the contract details rights and responsibilities of both parties and it is a binding...
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