There are many information technology in healthcare examples that illustrate how different types of organizations use IT to improve patient care. Some of the examples include: Electronic medical records, patient portals, and HITECH Omnibus Rule. Read on to learn about the benefits of each type of solution. We’ve also discussed HIPAA, HITECH, and patient portals. If you’re not familiar with these terms, you may want to check out this article to learn more about each type.
HIPAA
PII or protected health information, as it’s known in the healthcare industry, is information about a patient’s health that is identifiable. PII is information that has been transmitted to another person and may not be kept private unless it is transmitted in a specific manner. Examples of PHI include daily blood pressure readings on a form that contains the patient’s name and address. In some instances, PII is only protected in certain circumstances, such as when it is stored by a healthcare organization.
HIPAA has many requirements related to how electronic medical records are stored, transmitted, and protected. It also has additional requirements related to marking communications, accounting, and restrictions. For example, HITECH is affected by HIPAA. For further information on HIPAA, visit the ASHA website. These resources include articles, blogs, and articles regarding HIPAA. HIPAA examples are important for organizations seeking to comply with the privacy laws.
HITECH Omnibus Rule
The HITECH Omnibus Rule requires covered entities to obtain the consent of individuals prior to using their personal health information for marketing purposes. This new regulation covers marketing communications regarding healthcare items and services, and includes mandatory disclosure provisions under state and federal law. The new regulations also extend certain privacy rights to family members who pay for services. Affected parties can use this new rule to protect their family members’ health information. The new rules will affect marketing practices and information technology in healthcare in general.
One of the changes that the HITECH Act brought about was the right of individuals to request a copy of their PHI electronically. HIPAA already provided this right, but the Omnibus Rule extended that right to health care providers and other covered entities. In the past, these entities had to send hard copies of PHI to patients. With this change, business associates must now provide electronic versions of patient information.
Electronic medical record
Although EHRs are a wonderful new way to manage your patient’s medical records, there are still many issues associated with their use. Physicians are often resistant to the use of these programs, partly because they face an investment of time and money. Furthermore, physicians are faced with the decision of which system to use, as the benefits are not always immediately evident. Listed below are some of the key factors to consider before making the switch.
Large employers and private insurers have been key players in facilitating the adoption of HIT. Virtually every major health insurer offers incentive programs for using EHRs, and some even highlight physicians who meet certain requirements. In the United Kingdom, 90 percent of physicians use EHRs, while in New Zealand and the Netherlands, more than ninety percent have adopted some form of electronic medical record system. Despite the benefits, adoption has been slow in the U.S., with only 10 percent of physicians using fully functional EHR systems and a half using partial ones.
Patient portals
One example of ICT support in the field of health care is patient portals. These systems allow patients to perform tasks online such as booking appointments, referrals, and prescription requests. These systems can also send email reminders and alerts about upcoming events such as flu shots. They can also serve as a convenient tool for healthcare workers to improve efficiency and speed of care. But how can these technologies help healthcare workers?
While patient portals tend to be local and are managed by individual municipalities, national access is increasing rapidly. Already, prescription data is available on national levels. This development is aligned with the new national eHealth strategy and the Ministry of Finance’s Action Programme on eServices and eDemocracy. But patient portals do more than provide secure access to patient records. They also help health care workers improve patient safety and reduce healthcare costs.
Workflow standards
Using information technology in healthcare is not without its challenges. For example, 75% of medical communication takes place via fax. Fax is costly and error-prone, and it can result in tests and referrals not being processed properly. Workflow standards are necessary to prevent these issues. By adopting an information technology-based workflow, healthcare professionals can streamline the communication of health-related information. Using a single electronic medical record is the most effective solution to improving patient care, but a lack of standard workflow practices will lead to inefficiencies and reduced efficiency.
To design a workflow for integrating HIT, physicians must map their existing workflows. This way, they can identify inefficiencies and redesign them to be more efficient. During the planning process, clinicians and IT staff should work together to develop a new workflow that will support the use of health information technology. In addition, workflow standards will provide a framework to support adoption of health IT. In addition, these standards can help improve patient safety.
