By Cassi Birnbaum, MS, RHIA, CPHQ, FAHIMA This is a heady time for health information (HI) professionals, when we can leverage new and emerging technology as well as reap the benefits of mature application solutions to solve challenges. The time is right. As an example, I presented on this topic at the AHIMA21 Virtual Conference last September, and my organization, PeaceHealth, which operates in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, is already moving quickly to employ many of the technologies I showcased. Although a number of technology projects were abruptly halted when the COVID-19 pandemic began ..read more

By Dana DeMasters, MN, RN, CHPS The AHIMA Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS®) credential recognizes individuals who have achieved expertise in designing, implementing, and administering privacy and security protection programs in all types of healthcare organizations. Holders demonstrate advanced knowledge of the privacy and security dimensions of health information management to include best management practices. For this series, “My Credential Story,” we spoke to two CHPS credential holders about their careers and how the credential has helped them differentiate themselves i ..read more

By Peg Schmidt, RHIA, CHPS The AHIMA Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS®) credential recognizes individuals who have achieved expertise in designing, implementing, and administering privacy and security protection programs in all types of healthcare organizations. Holders demonstrate advanced knowledge of the privacy and security dimensions of health information management to include best management practices. For this series, “My Credential Story,” we spoke to two CHPS credential holders about their careers and how the credential has helped them differentiate themselves in the ..read more

By Elizabeth A. Delahoussaye, RHIA, CHPS Most healthcare organizations aspire to make patients’ health information available as rapidly as possible. However, there may be unintentional inconsistencies in policy or practice that can inadvertently make organizations noncompliant with regulatory requirements. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is the division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that enforces federal civil rights laws that protect the rights of individuals and entities from unlawful discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, age ..read more

By Joan M. Kiel, PhD, CHPS The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was signed into law in 1996. In 2003, the first of its 11 parts, the Privacy Rule, was implemented. Since then, several new provisions have become part of HIPAA. But several types of healthcare environments, including those related to new technologies, still do not fall under HIPAA. This raises the question of the need for new updates. But, first, let’s review. Six months after the Privacy Rule was introduced in 2003, the Transactions and Code Sets Rule was introduced. The next year, 2004, saw the Standa ..read more

By Shirlivia M. Parker, MHA, RHIA, CDIP, BS-HIM For the past several years, there have been many discussions and questions surrounding clinical validations denials and why clinical documentation integrity (CDI) isn’t leading the way to reimagine the process. The answer may be within the understanding of how CDI professionals fit in, who they should talk to, and why they aren’t invited to participate in the first place. Before we can really answer the question, it’s important to understand how clinical validation denials work, and, in some cases, realize that these types of denials exist. Healt ..read more

By Rebecca Mendoza Saltiel Busch, RN, MBA, CCM, CFE, CPC, CHPA-IV, CRMA, CICA, FIALCP, FHFMA, and Andrew Busch Healthcare organizations have access to vast amounts of data—originating in both clinical and business activities—that is used to make more decisions than an organization may even recognize, from patient care interventions to population health recommendations to employee salaries. Information technology, business, health information, and clinical professionals grapple with the unprecedented challenge of deciding what data to collect, how to collect it, how to store it, how to access i ..read more

By Lauren Liacouras Health data is crucial to improving large-scale public wellness and patient safety. For Mitch Dandurand, a health data analyst and epidemiologist for Lorain County Public Health in Elyria, Ohio, statistics have always proved fascinating. Although initially focused on performance management, Dandurand made the full-time transition to epidemiology when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. Since then, he’s aided in the collection of key data points regarding the spread of infection. An Affinity for Health Data “I’ve always had a fondness for statistics; however, I wasn’t really ..read more

By Sue Bowman, MJ, RHIA, CCS, FAHIMA The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is implementing three new diagnosis codes into ICD-10-CM, effective April 1, 2022. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing nine new procedure codes to describe the introduction or infusion of therapeutics, including vaccines for COVID-19 treatment, into ICD-10-PCS, also effective April 1, 2022. New ICD-10-CM Codes Two new ICD-10-CM codes have been created for underimmunization for COVID-19 status: Z28.310   Unvaccinat ..read more

By Deborah Adair, RHIA, MPH, MS The rapidly expanding healthcare Internet of Things, including remote monitoring technology, wearables, and apps, is empowering consumers to use their personal health information to manage their own health to a greater extent than ever before. We have always provided tools to consumers in support of accessing and sharing health information as active participants in their care. As digital innovation expands, so are the data sources, formats, content, and types of patient generated health data (PGHD). This article discusses management considerations for maintainin ..read more