HIM4630 Statistical Analysis for Health Information Management
Unit 6 Discussion
DQ1 Data Sharing Policies
Technology has afforded many improvements in the health care industry, primarily in the access to data and information, also known as data sharing. At the same time, the industry is confronted with the important issue of protecting patient privacy. One way to address patient privacy issues is with the implementation of policies and procedures.
Imagine that the Vila Health system is continuing to grow and has opened four new offices located across the United States, in addition to the 21 facilities acquired earlier in the year. Each office uses a different a computer system. There is currently no interoperability between systems. The executive management team realizes how inefficiently and ineffectively the network operates. You have been asked to provide a summary of recommendations to implement a cohesive data-sharing process, specifically related to workstation use.
Describe at least two recommendations that can be implemented for a cohesive data-sharing process and offer a type of policy or procedure that could support the recommendations.
Your initial post should be at least 150 words and must include at least one reference (both an in-text citation and a full bibliographic citation at the end, both following APA style).
DQ2 Protecting Patient Privacy
The health care industry is consistently confronted with the important issue of protecting patient privacy. Read the case example, “HMO Revises Process to Obtain Valid Authorizations,” linked in the Resources. In reference to the case, discuss why data and information sharing can be difficult in relation to protecting patient information. Include some solutions that are used to resolve these difficulties.
A complaint alleged that a health maintenance organization (HMO) impermissibly disclosed a member’s PHI when it sent her entire medical record to a disability insurance company without her authorization. An Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigation indicated that the form the HMO relied on to make the disclosure was not a valid authorization under the Privacy Rule. Among other corrective actions to resolve the specific issues in the case, the HMO created a new HIPAA-compliant authorization form and implemented a new policy that directs staff to obtain patient signatures on these forms before responding to any disclosure requests, even if patients bring in their own authorization form. The new authorization specifies what records or portions of the files will be disclosed; the respective authorization will be kept in the patient’s record, together with the disclosed information.
Your initial post should be at least 150 words and must include at least one reference (both an in-text citation and a full bibliographic citation at the end, both following APA style).
