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Get Your Team Prepared for the EHR, Part Three

EHR Selection Preparedness: Data Management In the third of our readiness assessments or “environmental scans,” evaluate what kind of data you collect, how data are gathered, and where it is stored. Old paper storage habits (a file here, another there) can easily translate into a messy and over-loaded server as well. Start by knowing what data is collected? A typical list of health information in a medical record includes the following. Clinical data: » H & P’s » Medication lists » Encounter Notes » Procedure reports » Pathology reports » Other labs reports » Imaging results/reports » Treatment Plans » Diagnosis based documentation and treatment templates » External Care (notes,…

Carolyn HartleyHealth IT and HITECHARRA Stimulus, Data Management, EHR SelectionLeave a comment

Word of the Day: Evidence-Based Practice Center

Evidence-Based Practice Center: Institution contracted under Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to develop evidence reports and technology assessments on topics relevant to clinical, social science/behavioral, economic, and other health care organization and delivery issues.

Carolyn HartleyHealth IT and HITECHAHRQ, evidence-based, Glossary, word of the dayLeave a comment

Facility Access Controls: Maintenance Records-What to Do and How to Do It

In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, this is the fourth implementation specification for the Physical Safeguard Standard, Facility Access Controls. This implementation specification is addressable. Remember, addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What…

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Red Flags Rules Compliance Countdown: 2 days

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) red flags rules for financial institutions and creditors to fight identity theft require compliance by most healthcare providers on Friday, May 1, 2009. See this post for more information on how to prepare for Friday’s deadline.

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Word of the Day: PHR

Personal health record (PHR): The health care consumer’s health information record, which they own and manage. Sharing or allowing access is based on the patient’s consent/permission.

Carolyn HartleyHealth IT and HITECHGlossary, personal health record, PHR, word of the dayLeave a comment

Facility Access Controls: Access Control and Validation Procedures-What to Do and How to Do It

In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, this is the third implementation specification for the Physical Safeguard Standard, Facility Access Controls. This implementation specification is addressable. Remember, addressable does not mean “optional.” Rather, an addressable implementation specification means that a covered entity must use reasonable and appropriate measures to meet the standard. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ARRA, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What…

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Red Flags Rules Compliance Countdown: 3 days

Word of the Day: Integrated System

Integrated System: In an EMR, the vendor builds the system using the same characteristics arranged in the broad categories of data issues, application issues, presentation issues, and operational issues. Systems built in this way are often referred to as a Single Source solution.

Carolyn HartleyHealth IT and HITECHEHR, Glossary, integrated system, terms, word of the dayLeave a comment

FTC’s “Red Flags” Rule to Prevent Identity Theft Requires Compliance by Healthcare Providers on Friday, May 1, 2009

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) “red flags” rules for financial institutions and creditors to fight identity theft require compliance by most healthcare providers on Friday, May 1, 2009. HIPAA.com recommends that healthcare providers examine three documents, which we have available at HIPAA.com, to determine their responsibilities with respect to compliance with the red flag rules. These documents are: » Identity Theft Red Flag Flags and Address Discrepancies Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003; Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2007. The preamble of the Final Rule, which discusses the purpose, intent, and scope of coverage, appears on pages 63718-63733. Of particular importance…

Identity Theft Red Flags and Address Discrepancies

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 12 CFR Part 41, 222, 334, 364, 571 and 717 16 CFR Part 681 Idendity Theft Red Flags and Address Discrepancies Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. ACTION: Joint Final Rules and Guidelines. Download (Requires Acrobat Reader)