Proposed Resolution for e-HIM® Professional Standards

The Tennessee Health Information Management Association has proposed the above named resolution for discussion and vote by Delegates at the House of Delegates this October in Philadelphia. The resolution addresses the fact that there are standards being developed for the technology of electronic health information, there is no one developing practice standards for the management of the information contained in the technology.

Some of the examples where practice standards are needed cited in the proposed resolution are:

1. Making amendments/addendums/corrections to the record.

2. Correcting lab results.

3. Appropriate use of “cut and paste.”

4. Management of electronic forms and templates.

5. View only.

6. Auditing for privacy violations.

The proposed resolution calls for AHIMA to:

1. Convene workgroups of HIM professionals to determine areas where professional guidelines are needed.

2. Convene workgroups to develop professional practice standards where needed.

3. Devote necessary resources to promote establishment of these professional standards.

4. Publish a registry of e-HIM practice standards in the public domain.

Please give us your feedback regarding this, and the other resolutions that are before the House of Delegates. You can find our contact information or you can e-mail any comments to me at awards@mohima.org.

I hope everyone had a safe Labor Day weekend and managed to have some fun.

Jeff McGraw, RHIT

Delegate

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Proposed Resolution on Quality Data and Documentation in the EHR

The AHIMA Physician Practice Council has proposed the above named resolution for discussion and vote by Delegates at the House of Delegates this October in Philadelphia. The resolution addresses the healthcare industry as it transitions to the EHR, and the opportunities to improve documentation at the design phase. The design of an EHR system needs to ensure data quality and integrity is maintained to support patient care, health information exchange, quality management, compliance and other secondary uses of the data.

The proposed resolution calls for AHIMA to advocate:

1. Organizations developing or implementing EHR systems take steps to ensure that the functionality of their EHR system supports quality care, valid documentation, and data integrity;

2. HIM professionals, particularly those with expertise in data capture methods, compliance, and data quality management, actively participate in EHR system selection, design and development, implementation, and maintenance;

3. Organizations implementing EHR systems ensure that process analysis and improvement is performed in order to enhance documentation and avoid inaccurate, incomplete, inappropriate, or non-compliant documentation;

4. HIM professionals collaborate with clinician users of the EHR, including training, to ensure that the best quality of data and documentation is maintained for patient care, quality management, compliance, health information exchange; and secondary use purposes; and

5. HIM professionals actively participate and contribute to organizations that develop standards for the EHR to ensure that data and documentation in the EHR meets the needs of healthcare organizations.

Please give us your feedback regarding this, and the other resolutions that are before the House of Delegates. You can find our contact information by going to www.mohima.org

You can e-mail any comments to me at EHR@mohima.org

Teresa Knox, RHIT

Delegate

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FORE Needs Your Help

Please consider supporting FORE. Listed below is their Mission/ Vision and the current project list.

FORE Mission

The Foundation of Research and Education of the American Health Information Management Association provides financial and intellectual resources to sustain and recognize continuous innovation and advances in health information management for the betterment of the profession, healthcare, and the public.

The Foundation achieves this mission by:

• raising funds to support Foundation initiatives
• identifying trends that impact health information management
• defining new directions for the profession
• guiding and encouraging professional development through research
• defining and identifying best practice
• recognizing excellence in the HIM profession

Through research, education, and public awareness initiatives the Foundation ensures the vitality, visibility and viability of the health information management profession.

FORE Vision

The Foundation of Research and Education (FORE) of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a financially self-sustaining entity that provides resources for national leadership, research and innovation in health information management for the healthcare industry. FORE resources drive the improvement of the discipline of health information management and its impact on the quality and safety of healthcare.

FORE Value Statement:

The values of FORE reflect the history and ongoing development of the profession, and include:

• Leadership
• Research
• Education
• Integrity
• Quality
• Collaboration
• Privacy
• Professionalism
• Diversity

Programs and Projects

Below is a listing of our current FORE programs or sponsored projects. For more information on a FORE program or sponsored project, please click on the title and you will be directed to that section of the FORE website.

• Merit Scholarships and Educational Loans • Practice Solutions and Best Practice Awards • Triumph Awards • Faculty Professional Development Stipends • FORE Library • Grant-in-Aid Research Awards • Dissertation Assistance Awards • Workforce Assessment Study

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Job Bank

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