It is designed to allow individuals who change jobs to retain health insurance coverage by eliminating  the use of "pre-existing" conditions - refusal to cover health problems that exist at the time of a job change.

Two components of HIPAA have particular relevance to health informatiion system managers: administrative simplification provisions and privacy protection regulations.

(Handout : Chapter 13 Information Security)

A. Clinical

B. Administration/Financial

C. Decision support for strategic management

D. Reporting

<D : Manual for the Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management p.69>

Potential Advantages of Outsourcing -

1. Staffing reductions

2. Smaller capital investment

3. More flexibility in using new technology

4. Reduction in implementation time

5. More predictable costs

Answer - All of the above

I have been through at least three hospital/system wide EMR conversions and have found that each have had their different challenges.   From training, infrastructure issues, senior leadership support, etc.  All can be contributed to two things: Planning and planning with key stakeholders.  A multidisciplinary team of key stakeholders must be convened regularly and way in advance. Senior leadership must be updated and bought in to all steps.  Without - all will succeed with carnage in its wake.

b.  Members of the Medical Staff & Nursing representatives

c.  Representatives from Finance & HR

d.  Members from Planning & Marketing

e.  other system users

f.  All of the above

g.  A, B & D

Answer is F

all of the above

Dr. Austin discussed organizations that take a centralized approach to IT department operations vs. a decentralized approach.  I would venture to guess that many organizations have a combination of both approaches with "major" systems following a centralized model and departmental specific applications being managed by department specific associates.  It is important when managing IT security not to overlook the department specific applications that hold PHI.  In a recent survey TJC asked to see our policy and then reviewed the process for ensuring appropriate associate access to secure locations, technology, supplies.  The surveyor reviewed the process for security updates for new associates, terminated associates, and transfer associates.  A well developed IT plan should encompass this component. 

The three essential elements of an information security system are:

1.  Protecting against system failures and catastrophic events.

2.  Protecting against viruses and malicious attempts to corrupt files

3.  Controlling access to information by unauthorized personnel

(Dr. Nelson, powerpoint slide 26)

Protecting data confidentiality is a key element of information security.  Components of protecting data elements include physical safeguards, technological controls, and enforcement of management policies.  Which is not considered a technological control?

1.       Passwords

2.       File backup procedures

3.       Virus protection

4.       User audit logs

Answer: 2 – File backups are physical safeguards.  Presentation by Dr. Austin, section 3.

According to Griffith & White, 6^th ed., 2007, pg. 407-410, information systems should meet the needs of its users.  The measures emphasized service and quality more than resources consumed.  These important measures are listed below.  Which is NOT one of the 6 measures Griffith & White discussed.

1.  Demand
2. Cost
3. Human Resources
4. Output and Productivity
5. Quality
6. Ethics
7. Consumer Services

Answer:  f.  Ethics

Information and technology is the keystone for everything. Management and clinical information are all dependent on it. Recent years, it has become more sophisticated that left amount of people in a sense of struggle to catch up the rapid growth.

Not only the medical healthcare, but other fields such as music, the entire culture (online twitter..) even the leadership decision makeers are all lean on to the developed technology.

However, the good news is the technology could only get easier and more convenient than before. So let us keep that spirit and catch on.

In the review materials it discusses the relevance of system integration. From conversation with my peers this seems to be one of the most challenging hurdles of successfully implementing a new EMR system. I myself have been involved in a system where the hospitals and ambulatory went live simultaneously but with two systems that had no compatibility. Is the integration of inpatient and outpatient services too daunting of a task that many systems do not even attempt this integration?

Does anyone have experience with collaborating with physicians (who are not employed by the health system) onIT programs?  The powerpoint presentation didn't really touch on this, specifically.

I'm wondering what solutions you've found and how the agreement has worked out?

With the challenges being faced with reduced reimbursement and the fact that most technology becomes obsolete within a year.  Would it be more cost effective to lease the equipment (computers, software, etc) needed for HIM than to purchase it?  What if the lease had a clause that updates are figured into the monthly cost of the lease?