Electronic health records increase the need for security and new knowledge
The federal government is attempting to motivate health care providers who treat Medicare and Medicaid patients with monetary incentives. Although it’s in sight, this pot of gold is still a long way off. The incentive is $27 billion and will be awarded to medical facilities that have their patient records stored electronically by 2014. This initiative is part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with requires doctors, hospitals, clinics and other providers to adopt a “meaningful use” of the electronic health record system (Health Policy Brief, 2010).
Benefits to electronic records
The result will be a streamlined process of storing, updating and accessing patient files. This improved access could also lead to better care as patients’ medical histories are readily available in a national database. This would be particularly advantageous when specialized or emergency care is needed. A specialist or emergency room provider can access the patient history online to determine the best treatment for the patient without having to speak with the patient’s primary care provider.
Because the information is entered using a keyboard rather than a ballpoint pen, there’s less of a chance that the physician’s notes would be misunderstood, which means clearer information to diagnose and treat patients.
Electronic records would also provide a reliable patient health history, which will be transferrable if the patient moved to a different state, or simply changed providers. A new doctor will be able to review the patient’s continuous medical background to determine the best course of care.
And, there’s even a global benefit — with so many treatment records online, the system can help doctors identify what works in treatment and what doesn’t, which could improve the quality of all health care.
Yet, with all of the rewards that the electronic patient record system will bring, there are also security and privacy concerns. The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) established a standard and expectation of privacy for patient health information.
These electronic records must guarantee patient privacy and honor patients’ requests to opt out of an online, shared database. At the smaller scale, individual providers would have to ensure that the data is safely stored in agreement with government/HIPAA standards.
Ensuring security
The effort to create standards that ensure the safety and security of the electronic patient files began in the George W. Bush administration. The Healthcare IT Standards (ITS) panel was created to identify and establish standards that are necessary for this database. This panel included representatives from government, industry and other stakeholders.
When Congress appointed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the database rules, they took the information established by ITS to create the first set of standards to protect the integrity of the database and patient privacy.
In addition to security issues, the standards also help alleviate potential system incompatibility between individual providers and the national database, and ensure a standard that constitutes “meaningful use.” These systems are certified following inspection to guarantee they meet HHS standards of functionality, reliability, security and compliance.
New requirements require new knowledge
The HHS standards were published on July 28, 2010, and become effective in 2011 and 2012. This timeframe is being designated as stage one of the incentive program. In the coming year, there will be additional criteria established that will be required in phases two and three of the incentive program, which may include government testing of each database to guarantee compliance with federal and HIPAA standards.
The Health Policy Brief prepared by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation states that the subsequent phases will “… raise the technical bar and require hospitals, doctors and other clinicians seeking additional incentive payments to do even more to advance health and health care through electronic health records” (2010).
While HHS is establishing a system to integrate, maintain and secure electronic records, the situation at individual providers might vary based upon the type of facility. But one thing is for certain: This shift from paper to electronic system will require new skills. In addition, the compliance rules for this and other health care reform policies may be complex. Preparing for the new world of patient records and care may require additional learning that is relevant to what’s happening in health care today.
A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Health Administration can provide professionals with the critical-thinking skills to best plan for unexpected events that occur in a health care setting. This advanced and targeted knowledge may also help a practice or hospital administrator smoothly implement the new system.
Even providers themselves — doctors and nurses — should consider getting additional training, particularly in information systems for health care. This type of education can help doctors, nurses, surgeons and other providers understand how to navigate the new world of patient records, including how to maintain the standards mandated by the HHS.
Health care providers must comply with this new rule by 2014. Even though there are three years to comply, navigating the details of the HHS standards may be difficult without specialized education. Targeted learning can make deciphering and implementing the requirements easier and make that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow within reach.
References
Health Policy Brief. (2010). Electronic health records standards. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. (2010). Standards & Certification.
Vamosi, R. (2009, May). Push for electronic medical records must slow down, for security’s sake. PC World.
Zerbe, L. (2010, June). Protect your electronic health records. Rodale.com.
