Technical Assessment Technology management and support helps determine the degree to which your clinic or practice can systematically and proactively manage technology assets. For example, you want to know the IT skill set of your staff, the current state of your organization’s technology infrastructure, your approach to technology planning, the existing technology management structures and technology project management capabilities. The technical assessment looks also at how well management and technology infrastructure can effectively support quality and operational goals. A technical assessment can save thousands of dollars, simply by identifying what you have and what you need. High-level items in the technical assessment or checklist include completion of a security risk…
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Word of the Day: Site Visit
Site Visit: A scheduled three- to five-hour visit at a location determined by the vendor and host site that allows the practice purchasing the same software to see that software and interfaces in action. Most purchasers want to observe the new workflows, how well the interfaces work, and learn implementation tips.
Categories Health IT and HITECHLeave a commentRed Flags Rules Compliance Countdown: 1 day
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 tomorrow’s deadline.
Categories Red Flags RulesLeave a commentGet 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,…
Categories Health IT and HITECHLeave a commentWord 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.
Categories Health IT and HITECHLeave a commentFacility 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…
Categories HIPAA LawLeave a commentRed 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.
Categories Red Flags RulesLeave a commentWord 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.
Categories Health IT and HITECHLeave a commentFacility 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…
Categories HIPAA LawLeave a commentRed Flags Rules Compliance Countdown: 3 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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