ABSTRACT
With advances in technology, patients increasingly expect to access their health information on their phones and computers seamlessly, whenever needed, to meet their clinical needs. The 1996 passage of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), modifications made by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), and the recent 21st Century Cures Act (Cures) promise to make patients' health information available to them without special effort and at no cost. However, inconsistencies among these policies' definitions of what is included in "health information", widespread variation in electronic health record system capabilities, and differences in local health system policies around health data release have created a confusing landscape for patients, health care providers, and third parties who reuse health information. In this article, we present relevant regulatory history, describe challenges to health data portability and fluidity, and present the authors' policy recommendations for lawmakers to consider so that the vision of HIPAA, HITECH, and Cures may be fulfilled.
Subject(s)
Electronic Health Records/legislation & jurisprudence , Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , Patient Access to Records/legislation & jurisprudence , American Recovery and Reinvestment Act/history , Confidentiality , Consumer Health Informatics , Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act/history , Health Policy/legislation & jurisprudence , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , United StatesABSTRACT
When considering information governance, CFOs should ask two primary questions: How accurate are our data, and is there a process in place to ensure that data are reliable, timely, up-to-date, and consistent? CFOs also should have at least a general sense of how and where data are flowing and whether the data accurately reflect services rendered. The goal of a formal enterprisewide information governance process is to enable employees to identify data-quality issues up front, thereby avoiding the need to devote valuable time and resources to resolving problems after an error occurs.
Subject(s)
Economics, Hospital , Health Information Management/organization & administration , Program Development , Health Information Management/standards , Hospital Administrators , Professional Role , United StatesABSTRACT
When building a data governance model, finance leaders should: Establish a leadership team and define the program's scope. Calculate the return using the confidence in data-dependent assumptions metric. Identify specific areas of deficiency and create a budget to address these areas.
Subject(s)
Hospital Information Systems/organization & administration , Information Management/organization & administration , Models, Organizational , Information Management/economics , United StatesABSTRACT
Big data breaches grab the headlines, but mounting release of information requests pose everyday risks that require constant diligence.
Subject(s)
Computer Security , Confidentiality , Hospital Information Systems , Risk Management , Education, Continuing , Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , Humans , Risk Management/organization & administration , United StatesABSTRACT
Mentoring is a vital way that professionals give back to the profession. Here, three distinguished AHIMA mentors explain their commitment to advancing the profession one person at a time.
Subject(s)
Mentors , Staff Development/methods , Hospital Information Systems , Humans , Medical Record AdministratorsABSTRACT
A student comes to your office excited about the prospect of getting her tongue pierced. "Isn't it cool?" The popular trend of body piercing is on the rise. It is our job as nurses and health promoters to alert students to the facts. Students must be informed about the risks involved so they can make suitable decisions about their bodies. Piercing may be more than an assertion of individuality. This article describes body piercing health risks and treatment methods, and how school nurses can advise students on the risks and care of body piercing.
