EMR system

EMR system
EMR system

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EMR system

Managing Health Care Business Strategy                                                                                                              

What elements (at least two) are missing from the action plan in Table 9.1 for the EMR system? Justify your choice

Piloting is a very important element which has been omitted from the action plan. Piloting helps to ensure that the vendor will supply a truly tested and proven system which is relevant to the organization. The risk of not piloting is too high given that a lot of money goes into acquiring such a system.

Failure to pilot a system can lead to multiple challenges such as loss of funds in that, after procuring the system, most likely it will be a custom – made one and therefore in the event it malfunctions, the vendor might not accept it back since the specifications, coding and even the program used is tailor made for the organization which ordered for the EMR system and therefore the vendor cannot resell it. 

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Another problem associated with failure to pilot the system is the possible loss of data in that a malfunction if system is fully implemented without piloting will lead to difficulties if the system fails. Loss of man power hours is also a likely outcome of an EMR system which was not properly tested before implementation. Also employees are known to oppose changes especially those which touch on their work. EMR systems digitalize the records of an organization and therefore an EMR should be effective in providing the relevant information in as far as medical records are concerned (Moseley III & George, 2008).

The EMR should function so well that all users in a medical set up should be able to access information with ease. This is only possible if employees get a chance to try the system way before it is implemented. This in turn creates an opportunity for the management and the vendors to receive feedback from the employees and deliver a final product which is not only user friendly but also one which will make the employees feel like they own it. Finally piloting serves to improve a system in that system bugs will be identified and fixed therefore the hospital will end up with a cost effective system.

EMR system

Funding is very important in any system implementation process and this requires the involved stakeholders to budget for the project. It also calls for approval from the top management such as the organization’s board of directors. Indeed, many good plans in organizations end up unimplemented due to lack of funding or sometimes underfunding which can cause a project to stall even at its very final phase.

Therefore the managers should ‘count cost’ before initiating an EMR project. The stalling of a project can cause conflicts in an organization, stemming from disillusioned employees. Sometimes this can lead to big losses in the future.

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Project auditing which is also known as a preliminary needs analysis is a very crucial step which serves to give project credence. This also ensures that processes are done in a transparent manner. Since the auditing will answer questions such as; is the project important? Is it timely? Is it cost effective? And if it will add value to the organization, this is very important because it’s the auditing report can even cause the project to be dropped altogether.

Describe the activities that should be implemented to address the missing elements.

For piloting activity, the system will have to be implemented in one department first before approval and subsequent application in the whole organization. Testing and piloting therefore need to happen so as to give a preview of what to expect upon project implementation. It will not be prudent to skip this stage/phase only to end up with a system installed but hat which cannot fulfill its intended purposes

EMR system

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Describe where these activities would be added to the list (relative to the other activities already listed).

The three activities can each be arranged with the help of a Gantt chart which serves to show what activities must be completed first before which others. In this case auditing or needs assessment should be the first step towards a successful implementation of an EMR. This is because the verdict given at this stage influences whether the EMR is necessary and profitable for the organization.  Project piloting or testing will follow thereafter if the needs assessment of auditing gives a nod for the organization to implement fully the project. The second last step should be the piloting step which should happen just before full implementation.

Funding on the other hand ensures that enough finances and other resources are set aside to carry on the projection to completion. Without the EMR system being factored in the budget, it only means the project will not take off let alone starting.

Project auditing calls for a team of experts in a given area. The experts in EMR implementation offer a neutral stand point which is regarded with honor by many and therefore by allowing the auditing process, needs are identified and solutions suggested. This leads to a process that is smooth and devoid of avoidable errors.

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Specify exactly which people from the hospitals and practice will participate in these new activities and justify your choice.

The three additional activities suggested will need to be handled by experts in their respective fields. It is however worthy noting that in all steps of the project process, stakeholder identification and involvement is very crucial. Employees at various levels in the hospital are very important stakeholders and must be involved in the system design and implementation so that they may own it. Those who audit the EMR should be experts in the area as well as the managers in the relevant departments.

EMR system

As for the funding the organization, the chief executive officer or the board must be involved because they are the one to authorize money to carry on the other phases. Finally piloting and testing needs to be done by two technical teams, one from the supplier and the order one representing the interest of the hospital. In conclusion, it is clear that despite the enormous advantages of an EMR system, its purchase and installation needs more than just consulting with the physicians; it as well requires careful considerations so that the resulting product is the best value for money.

References

Moseley III, George B. (2008) Managing Health Care Business Strategy. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. 

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Health Record Policies

Health Record Policies
Health Record Policies

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Health Record Policies

Evaluate the two policies in the attached “Health Record Policies” by doing the following:
 
Discuss what information should be included in an addendum pertaining to a shadow chart.

Generally, an addendum includes amendments or corrections in the primary medical records.This must bear the client’s signature, the amendment date and the amendments themselves. This avails the information that was missing at time of original entry.

Discuss how information technology staff can help decrease incidents of security breaches.

Security breaches especially related to data cause negative consequences for healthcare institutions, their clients and employees. The information technology staff should take preventive measures to avoid this. Encrypting confidential data is essential. All computers in the organization must have password protection. Also a backup of all data must be kept to avoid loss of data in case of data loss.

Thirdly, controls must be placed on data access and storage to avoid unauthorized access. Disposal of outdated data and equipment should be done carefully, and there should be regulation on use of laptops and other portable storage media and devices (Pendrak & Ericson, 1998).

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Discuss one situation from Montana Code 41-1-402 (2a through 2d) that may result in criminal liability to the organization if not followed.

A situation that may result in criminal liability for a healthcare institution is if for example an abortion is procured on a minor from a stable family and under the care of her parents without the parent’s consent.

Summarize how HIPAA defines criminal liability.

HIPAA has put a penalty for any unauthorized access to a patient’s medical records with or without knowledge of this law. Employees in healthcare institutions can also be charged with breaching the confidentiality of patients without authority to do so. 
Explain which part of 2a through 2d of Montana Code 41-1-402 would directly impact actions of clinical staff.
            
Part 2 (d) would impact actions of the clinician. If a minor needs treatment for STDs, drug and substance abuse, then if the clinician accepts to offer treatment, they are also mandated to offer counseling the minor or refer them to a counselor.

Health Record Policies

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 Discuss one situation from Montana Code 50-16-603x (1 through 7) specific to health record identification that may result in a legal claim against the organization if not followed.

 If a healthcare institution uses pictures of their former patients for its advertisement on the media without written consent from the former clients.
Develop a confidentiality policy statement (suggested length of 1–2 sentences) using either Montana Code 41-1-402 or Montana Code 50-16-603.

Disclosure of a patient’s presence: This should not be disclosed to unauthorized parties, even in a manner that would reveal nature of disease without the consent of the patient as it will be a breach of confidentiality. 

Compare three points in the Montana codes to HIPAA laws as they refer to release of information.

50-16-542. 1(a) Release of information will be denied if the healthcare provider thinks it will cause negative effects on the recipient. 50-16-542. 1(c) if the information will cause danger to the recipient’s safety and 50-16-542. 2(a) if the minor has a mental condition. All these show that information can only be released if it will not cause any adverse effects on the patient.

Health Record Policies

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Develop a release of information policy statement (suggested length of 1–2 sentences) using either Montana Code 50-16-541 or Montana Code 50-16-542 for a policy book.

Releasing information of patient over the phone of fax: This is not encouraged as the there is no evidence provided to show that the caller or fax destination are eligible recipients of the patient information.

References

Pendrak, R. F., & Ericson, R. P. (1998). Information technologies need to protect patient confidentiality.Healthcare Financial Management, 52(10), 66-8. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/196382179?accountid=45049;

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