The National Alliance for Health Information Technology has defined the terms EHR, EMR and PHR as follows:EHR-EMR-PHR

Improvement in Health care

The Affordable Care Act seeks to increase access to high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. To that end, the law requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care (the National Quality Strategy) that sets priorities to guide this effort and includes a strategic plan for how to achieve it. This report describes the initial Strategy and plan for implementation. full article

Need for improvement Health care systems

Many types of medical errors result in the subsequent need for additional health care services to treat patients who have been harmed. A highly fragmented delivery system that largely lacks even rudimentary clinical information capabilities results in poorly designed care processes characterized by unnecessary duplication of services and long waiting times and delays.   read on....

Benefits of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

Medicine is an information-rich enterprise. A greater and more seamless flow of information, aided by electronic health records (EHRs) (sometimes referred to as electronic medical records), can transform health care by organizing it around the patient. With EHRs, a patient’s information is available whenever and wherever it is needed.
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, a component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, represents the Nation’s first substantial commitment of Federal resources to support the widespread adoption of EHRs. read full article

Redefining the Legal Health Record

Redefining the legal health record  www.himss.org

Massachusetts Record Retention Law- Differs for Physicians Offices and Hospitals

The implementation of the EHR created an opportunity to change the law on how long records should be kept.  Hospitals in the state of Massachusetts were required to keep records for 30 yrs; this was recently reduced to 20 yrs for hospitals.  The cost of storage can be a major financial burden.  Below is a quote taken from healthinfolaw.org 

Massachusetts also sets forth requirements for the maintenance of medical records by heath clinics. Health clinics must maintain patient medical records for 20 years after final discharge or treatment of the patient. Medical records can be in any format, but handwritten or typed records that have been converted into an electronic format can be destroyed before the 20 year period. When the records are destroyed, they must preserve patient confidentiality. The clinic must give 30 days’ notice to the patient to inform him or her that the medical record will be destroyed.4 Massachusetts law also expressly states that nursing homes and community health clinics must satisfy the minimum rules of recordkeeping set forth by the Department of Health.5Read more about the Law

Record Retention Laws varies from state

Penalty for Breaches - taken from AMA News

Carelessness behind many health data breaches Mishandling patient information, whether paper or electronic, can cost millions in fines even if no harm is intended.

The privacy rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 set fines and enforcement against practices, hospitals and others that didn't protect patient data. But the Health Information Technology for Clinical Health Act of 2009, part of the 2009 economic stimulus package, raised stakes by increasing the possible fine to $1.5 million for each patient whose data were breached.Penalty for Breach. More...

Health information Breaches

Breaches Affecting 500 or More Individuals

As required by section 13402(e)(4) of the HITECH Act, the Secretary must post a list of breaches of unsecured protected health information affecting 500 or more individuals. These breaches are now posted in a new, more accessible format that allows users to search and sort the posted breaches.

breachtool- hhs.gov site

Your PHR is your personal health record.  Now that the health record is electronic it is easier to keep track of your health information or your loves information.  The PHR can be kept on a website or you can keep it on a local system. 

Information taken from Medicare.gov

·         Personal Health Records (PHR)

·         Why use PHRs?

·         Who offers PHRs?

·         Is my health information private and secure in a PHR?

·         What should I keep in a PHR?

·         What should I ask when choosing a PHR?

·         Can a caregiver use a PHR to help manage their loved one's care?

·         What other PHR resources are available?

A personal health record (PHR) is a record with information about your health that you or someone helping you keeps for easy reference using a computer. You control the health information in your PHR and can get to it anywhere at any time with Internet access.

Managing your Electronic Record online

Future of EHR...telehealth

Stage 2 Meaningful Use for Medicare EHR Incentive Program Delayed to 2014

Posted on December 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

On November 30, HHS announced intention to delay implementation of Stage 2 of Meaningful Use of electronic health records (EHR) until 2014. Under previous rules, physicians who achieved meaningful use in 2011 would have had to move to the higher Stage 2 standard in 2013.
Meaningful use is the set of criteria on which physicians must report in order to receive federal incentive payments for EHR adoption. What is currently published as meaningful use is known as Stage 1. Later stages will include more reporting measures and higher standards.more..

Open Source system (Free EHR System)

Epocrates iPad EHR at HIMSS12

Physicians Experience with the EHR ...

Experiences with EHR Adoption

In fact, after completing EHR adoption, most providers have had positive experiences using their system. NCHS reports that 85 percent of the physicians surveyed indicated they were either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their EHR and almost three-quarters (74 percent) reported that their use of an EHR within the last 30 days enhanced their overall patients’ care. Almost three-quarters (71 percent) would purchase their EHR system again.read more

Hospitals Reaping Financial Benefits of Telehealth

    
"While telehealth launched more than 40 years ago to address care for geographically isolated patients, its growth has been slow but steady. However, in the past 10 years, the growth of high-speed communication networks and the push to lower healthcare costs have made telehealth an idea that's time has finally come, and in many instances is now getting reimbursed.

Telemedicine, or telehealth, is the practice of patient caregiving through virtual office visits and virtual rounding. It encompasses the use of various information technologies and clinical applications that capture medically significant data, diagnoses, and consults. Numerous technologies are used in telehealth ranging from standard telephone connections, video conferencing, robotics, healthcare kiosks, PC webcams, iPads, and smartphones. more...

Costco EMR Solution

There are may companies trying to help with finding affordable solution for the implementation of health record.  When most of us think of Costco I am not sure if you would think of  purchasing healthcare systems.

Simple, Affordable, Integrated & Complete

Fully hosted EHR & PM software & service solution for your entire practice

Costco has teamed up with Etransmedia, a Premier Plus Allscripts Partner, allowing them to offer this EHR and PM solution to Costco members.
Click on link to learn more...

more...

Patients survey on the EHR

How are patients feeling about the electronic record. Do they find it usefull?
"The majority of patients find value in the use of electronic health records, according to a study commissioned by the National Partnership for Women & Families, The Hill's "Healthwatch" reports (Pecquet, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 2/16).

Read more: http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2012/2/16/survey-finds-majority-of-patients-believe-ehrs-are-valuable-in-care.aspx

When was the EHR signed into law?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, signed into law by President Obama, defined the Electronic Medical Record (EHR) as “an electronic record of health-related information on an individual that is created, gathered, managed and consulted by authorized health care clinicians and staff.” (Jones). The intent of the bill is that all Americans should have an electronic record by 2014; the EMR should improve patient care and reduce overall cost of healthcare delivery. Some of the minimal requirements to be considered are, feasibility of research, data comparison, i.e. comparing medicines for a specific condition and responsiveness to expressed needs of the patients. (Article from HHS.gov/Recovery).

Will the electronic record help to improve healthcare?

Having the health record in an electronic format can help by providing consistency in documentation. Most of our health history is based on our memory and I know my memory is not as sharp as it once was. when you keep copies of our health information electronically it can be easily accessed by each doctor you see and they all will have the same story.

HIMSS - News: Patient Portals: A Jumpstart on Meeting Meaningful Use Requirements

I am sharing this article so you can read about one hospital's experience with a patient portal


HIMSS - News: Patient Portals: A Jumpstart on Meeting Meaningful Use Requirements

What is a Patient Portal?

A patient portal is an application that allows patients access to their electronic health record and also provide them the ability to communicate with their healthcare provider.  At this time, not all providers have this type of service available.  As health IT progresses and the deadline for the EHR gets closer I believe this service will become a basic service offered to patients.

HIM Professional Roles in e-HIM

HIM Professional Roles in e-HIM