Email Alerts
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Guide to health care compliance resources, agencies
guide
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Questioning the use of prizes to foster health IT innovation
This letter from a SearchHealthIT.com reader suggests that HIT innovation driven through prizes may not deliver the expected return on investment. Feedback
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How the accountable care organization will impact health IT strategy
Health care reform emphasizes the ACO payment and care delivery model. This tutorial covers the objectives of the accountable care organization, as well as its IT requirements Tutorial
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Reader feedback and letters to the editor
Feedback
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Health IT library
Take a deep dive into the health IT trends and technologies impacting hospital IT departments and health care CIOs across the country with expert e-books from SearchHealthIT.com. library
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Real-time public health surveillance at work in Kentucky
This letter from a reader details public health reporting efforts in northern Kentucky. The system uses rules engines to limit what must be reported. This helps small providers. Feedback
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Resource Center: Meaningful use of EHR technology
This guide takes a close look at the meaningful use of EHR, from the final rule that established the EHR Incentive Programs and the meaningful use criteria to the planning and know-how that providers need. null
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FAQ guides for health care IT
These FAQ guides provide detailed answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in health care IT, plus links to related articles, tips and terms. FAQ
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Telemedicine urgent care delivery model extends provider reach
Experts from the ATA 2012 conference predict telemedicine urgent care delivery models will become the norm in 5 years, despite some clinical limitations. News | 01 May 2012
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IHT2 summit attendees identify 20 health IT challenges
The C-level health care executives at this conference list paper records, infrastructure, poor strategic vision and absent standards among their toughest obstacles to IT success. News | 06 Apr 2012
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Connectivity docs will need for Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative
CMS's care coordination pilot could signal the start of medical homes for solo physicians and group practices, but it will require some IT infrastructure to get off the ground. News | 08 Feb 2012
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Compliance, health IT adoption hot topics at ONC meeting
The ONC annual meeting shined a spotlight on cutting-edge health IT implementation strategies. Meanwhile, the OCR head discussed HIPAA compliance regulations and IT risk analyses. News | 23 Nov 2011
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IOM report poised to shape EHR safety regulation
EHR safety will likely get new scrutiny in the wake of an Institute of Medicine report. It remains to be seen if the FDA, ONC, TJC or some other entity will do the watchdog work. News | 14 Nov 2011
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Will ACO implementation improve patient health, or just cut costs?
Accountable care organizations are supposed to cut health care costs. Experts wonder if ACO technology and physician incentives can also make patients more responsible. News | 31 Oct 2011
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Public-private coalition announces EHR adverse event reports site
EHRevents.org offers health care providers a place to file adverse event reports concerning EHR technology. Reports will be forwarded to the FDA, which wants to track EHR safety. News | 07 Sep 2011
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The ACO model and shared savings: Can IT get you there?
The success of accountable care organizations seems possible. Association leaders aren't quite convinced. Either way, IT departments should prepare for a new reimbursement model. News | 15 Jun 2011
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Can HIE technology be extended to the ACO model?
One health information exchange is raising a fascinating idea: since it's already collecting patient data, why not create its own accountable care organization? News | 19 Apr 2011
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IOM report to influence future of EHR safety
An Institute of Medicine report on health IT due in early fall could rewrite the book on EHR safety and trip off FDA rulemaking. A new, free newsletter keeps tabs on the issue. News | 23 Mar 2011
- See More: News on Federal health care policy issues and health care reform
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Finding a modernized data backup solution for health care
Health care organizations are required by HIPAA to create and maintain data backups. This tip explains how to choose a data backup solution that works for your organization. Tip
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How the team approach to health care impacts clinical data governance
Health care reform and the ACO model promote a team approach to care delivery. This means tackling the tough tasks of first harmonizing data and then making it readily available. Tip
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Avoiding a patient data breach -- and how to handle one if it does occur
More stringent state and federal laws require a more proactive patient data breach prevention and response by health care providers. Experts from AHIMA 2011 offer tips for both. Tip
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Considering EHR addendums: How to create and maintain policies
With the need for more accurate data on the rise, officials are studying how to best create EHR addendum policies. IT professionals at AHIMA 2011 provided some best practice tips. Tip
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For the record: EHR addendum policies a key AHIMA 2011 issue
An ONC Tiger Team is hashing best practices for making edits, or "EHR addendums." In some cases, it's transferring paper processes to EHRs; in others, brand new ways of thinking. Tip
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Emerging health IT risk assessment standard fuels HIPAA compliance
The IEC 80001-1 standard provides a health IT risk assessment roadmap. The process can uncover safety, security and performance problems -- and in turn, enable HIPAA compliance. Tip
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How to perform a security risk assessment in a health IT environment
The coming wave of digital data may leave some health care environments unprotected. Read here about how to perform security risk assessments in your health IT environment. Tip
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How the HITECH Act changes HIPAA compliance
Thanks to the HITECH Act, HIPAA compliance has become stricter, with bigger fines for data breaches and restrictions on the use of personal data. This tip outlines the major changes to HIPAA compliance. Tip
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Key health information technology policy initiatives to know
Several new health IT policy requirements originated with the health care reform bill. This tip spells out what they are, who will write them and when they will go into effect. Tip
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Ten must-read health IT policy documents
A veritable alphabet soup of federal agencies release rules and regulations. This tip summarizes 10 important ones, including HIPAA, meaningful use and data breach notification. Tip
- See More: Tips on Federal health care policy issues and health care reform
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American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a professional organization dedicated to helping health care professionals manage personal health information in their effort to provide quality health care to the public. Definition
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National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT)
The National Alliance for Health Information Technology, or NAHIT, was formed in 2002 in an effort to promote the use of health IT. Definition
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HIPAA Security Rule
The Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information, commonly known as the HIPAA Security Rule, establishes national standards for securing patient data that is stored or transferred electronically. Definition
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HIPAA Privacy Rule
The Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, commonly known as the HIPAA Privacy Rule, establishes the first national standards to protect patients' personal health information (PHI). Definition
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electronic protected health information (ePHI)
Electronic protected health information (ePHI) refers to any protected health information (PHI) that is covered under Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) security regulations and is produced, saved, transferred or rece... Definition
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Health and Human Services (HHS)
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the part of the federal government that's responsible for administrating programs that deal with health and welfare. According the official HHS website, the department works with almo... Definition
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pharmaceutical detailing
Detailing is a marketing technique used by pharmaceutical companies wherein a pharmaceutical representative visits and attempts to persuade a doctor to prescribe a certain company’s product more often. Definition
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HIT standards committee
The Health Information Technology (HIT) standards committee is a federal committee created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) that advises the National Coordinator for Health IT on matters of standards, certification criteri... Definition
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HIT policy committee
The Health Information Technology (HIT) policy committee is a federal committee created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) that advises the National Coordinator for Health IT on the creation of a nationwide health IT infrast... Definition
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National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS)
The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) is an advisory body to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Definition
- See More: Definitions on Federal health care policy issues and health care reform
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Key HIMSS 2011 trends to track: HIE, ACO and ICD-10
With the health care industry at a crossroads, the HIMSS 2011 show is focusing on innovations in health information exchange -- and such mandates as the ICD-10 conversion. Video
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Health care stakeholders share progress notes on health IT adoption
Are we making progress on the road to health IT adoption? Speakers at the Healthcare Stimulus Exchange conference in Chicago share stories from the front lines of health IT. Video
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Patient engagement leads to more effective use of health IT
The federal government wants meaningful use of health IT, but surveys show it won't happen unless patient engagement improves. This podcast examines what doctors can do. Podcast
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U.S. senator says health care IT initiatives are critical
Watch highlights from U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's speech at the New England HIMSS 5th Annual Public Policy Forum, and see why he continues to support health care IT initiatives. Video
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FHA director discusses progress of health IT interoperability projects
Federal Health Architecture director Vish Sankaran discusses the program's health IT interoperability projects and how they're helping providers exchange information securely. Video
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Finding a modernized data backup solution for health care
Health care organizations are required by HIPAA to create and maintain data backups. This tip explains how to choose a data backup solution that works for your organization. Tip
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Telemedicine urgent care delivery model extends provider reach
Experts from the ATA 2012 conference predict telemedicine urgent care delivery models will become the norm in 5 years, despite some clinical limitations. News
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American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a professional organization dedicated to helping health care professionals manage personal health information in their effort to provide quality health care to the public. Definition
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National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT)
The National Alliance for Health Information Technology, or NAHIT, was formed in 2002 in an effort to promote the use of health IT. Definition
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How the team approach to health care impacts clinical data governance
Health care reform and the ACO model promote a team approach to care delivery. This means tackling the tough tasks of first harmonizing data and then making it readily available. Tip
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IHT2 summit attendees identify 20 health IT challenges
The C-level health care executives at this conference list paper records, infrastructure, poor strategic vision and absent standards among their toughest obstacles to IT success. News
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HIPAA Security Rule
The Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information, commonly known as the HIPAA Security Rule, establishes national standards for securing patient data that is stored or transferred electronically. Definition
-
HIPAA Privacy Rule
The Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, commonly known as the HIPAA Privacy Rule, establishes the first national standards to protect patients' personal health information (PHI). Definition
-
electronic protected health information (ePHI)
Electronic protected health information (ePHI) refers to any protected health information (PHI) that is covered under Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) security regulations and is produced, saved, transferred or rece... Definition
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Connectivity docs will need for Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative
CMS's care coordination pilot could signal the start of medical homes for solo physicians and group practices, but it will require some IT infrastructure to get off the ground. News
- See More: All on Federal health care policy issues and health care reform
About Federal health care policy issues and health care reform
There are a variety of health care policy issues that impact the way providers and payers use technology to provide care and submit claims. Chief among these policies is the health care reform law of 2010, which encourages the creation of accountable care organizations to improve care coordination and reduce rising care costs. Additional health care policy issues spell out the regulatory standards to which medical devices and other technology must be held. Find resources here that explain the ACO model, examine the health care reform law's impact on IT and outline past, present and future federal and state health care policy issues.