Author: Powers, Malissa; Gregrich, Sabrena

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Malissa Powers, BS, RHIT, CCS, CICA, and Sabrena Gregrich, MBA, RHIA, CHPS, CPEHR


As healthcare moves toward value-based reimbursement, provider organizations are experiencing a new level of complexity in coding denial trends, which requires effective strategies for managing de....

Author: Fernandes, Lorraine M.; Butler-Henderson, Kerryn CHIA, FAHIMA; MacDonald, Marci; Skurka, Margaret A.; Lewis, Carol; AlBishi, Hussein; Axford, Kylie

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Lorraine Fernandes, RHIA; Kerryn Butler Henderson, PhD; Carol Lewis, MPH, RHIA; Marci MacDonald, CHIM; Margaret Skurka, MS, RHIA, CCS, FAHIMA; Hussein AlBishi; and Kylie Axford


Healthcare, like manY other segments of society and the economy, has become truly global.

<....

Author: Plimpton, Julie MSHI, RHIA, CPHI; Wickard, Amanda

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Julie Wulf Plimpton, MSHI, RHIA, CPHI, and Amanda Wickard, MBA, RHIA, CPHI


As with any journey, understanding where you started is the key to understanding where you are going. Those who have been in the health information management (HIM) industry for many years have seen rapi....

Author: Druckenmiller, Gary Jr.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Gary Druckenmiller Jr.


Consider these three statistics: Acquiring a new patient is six to seven times costlier than retaining an existing one.1 A five percent increase in patient retention produces a 25 percent increase in profit.2 Additionally, the volume of healthcare data is....

Author: Wiggs Harris, Wylecia

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, chief executive officer


How would you spend $262 billion? It’s an eye-popping number, but according to a 2017 report by Change Healthcare, that’s how much in claims are initially denied every year due to insufficient clinical documentation. The r....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

Incidents Create Questions About the Emerging Tech’s Use in Healthcare


Unquestionably, artificial intelligence (AI) is destined to revolutionize healthcare. It’s also highly likely that in the near future, lawmakers in the United States will pursue legislation to strengthen privacy law....

Author: Meehan, Ann M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Ann Meehan, RHIA


Information is a healthcare organization’s most strategic asset and requires enterprise-wide management to ensure that it is protected and secured in the most compliant way—for patient care and other business purposes. More than ever, healthcare org....

Author: Wilson, Valerie

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Valerie Watzlaf, PhD, MPH, RHIA, FAHIMA


The process for preparing to run a marathon is similar to that of building strategy. Both begin with asking a seemingly simple question: “Why?”


We may decide to run a marathon for personal achievement, to support charity, o....

Author: Minski, Melissa

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Melissa Minski, RHIA, CCS, CCDS


According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), more than 10 million patients undergo surgical procedures as inpatients each year, accounting for over 25 percent of all hospital stays. The most common types of inpatient s....

Author: Maccariella-Hafey, Patricia C

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Patricia Maccariella-Hafey, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, CIRCC


Calendar year (CY) 2019 brings robust changes to the CPT code set with 212 new codes, 73 deleted codes, and 50 revised codes. That puts the total number of CPT codes at an all-time high of 10,294. This article will highl....

Author: Morris, Wes; Nunn, Sandra L.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2019

By Wes Morris, CHPS, CIPM, HCISPP, and Sandra Nunn, MA, RHIA, CHP


ONE OF THE critical information governance (IG) functions is successful execution of an organization’s privacy and security responsibilities. Chief among these responsibilities is to conduct an accurate and thorough....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Mary Butler


Being told “there’s going to be an audit” triggers a fight or flight reaction of sorts. Visions of G-men in suits and ties, ominously wielding briefcases and calculators, spring to mind before the bearer of the bad news can clarify the context or minimize the i....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

Editor’s Note: This Practice Brief supersedes the January 2016 Practice Brief titled “Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice (2016 Update).”



This American Health Information Management Association – Association of Clinical Documentation Im....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

Editor’s Note: This Practice Brief supersedes the January 2016 Practice Brief titled “Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice (2016 Update).”



This American Health Information Management Association – Association of Clinical Documentation Im....

Author: Crabb, Stephanie; Fullem, Leah MHCDS

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Stephanie Crabb, MA, and Leah Fullem, MHCDS


Value-based healthcare IS changing how things work for everyone. The front end of this change—the way that clinicians, patients, and caregivers participate in healthcare—is anchored by the electronic health record (EHR) an....

Author: Marron-Stearns, Michael

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Michael Marron-Stearns, MD, CPC, CFPC


On November 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.1 This document includes policy information for the third performance year of the CMS Quality Payment Program (QPP).....

Author: Hansen, Abby

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Abby Hansen, MHA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P


As always, the new year has brought the annual round of updates to code sets and coding procedures, including the newly released Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) update for 2019. The final rule for calendar year (CY)....

Author: Wise, Lee A; Miller, Nicole

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Nicole Miller, MS, RHIA, and Lee Wise, MS, RHIA, CHCO


We live in an era where we can order groceries online and have them delivered right to our kitchen. We are able to do nearly all banking online, making it possible to never set foot in a brick-and-mortar bank branch. It can....

Author: Roth, Julie A.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Julie Roth, JD, MHSA, RHIA


Imagine the following scenario. Jane has served as the HIPAA security officer for a 200-bed community hospital for five years. Fortunately, the hospital’s governing board understands the importance of HIPAA compliance and provides the health informati....

Author: Fahy, Kristi

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Kristi Fahy, RHIA


Streamline, streamline, streamline! Organizations keep hearing that streamlining the way business is conducted will maximize outcomes and returns. Luckily, the path to a more streamlined organization takes us all the way down to the basics: policies and p....

Author: Clack, Lesley; Woeppel, Jacqueline

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Lesley Clack, ScD, MS, and Jacqueline Woeppel, ScD, MBA, RHIA, CCS


With the overwhelming amount of data available in healthcare, analytics has increasingly become an important tool for organizations. Data analytics can help organizations make informed decisions and predict what....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

While a lot has been done to fight some of the biggest inequities in healthcare—such as higher premiums or insurance denials for pre-existing conditions—some mysteries of the system remain impenetrable for consumers. Chief among those is price transparency and the quagmire that must be navigate....

Author: Wells, Shawn

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Shawn Wells, RHIT, CHDA


As we move into the second month of the new year I am reminded of our optimistic, yet often-abandoned, list of New Year’s resolutions. These promises we make to ourselves every January originated as promises to the pagan gods over 4,000 years ago, with....

Author: Wiggs Harris, Wylecia

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, chief executive officer


Recently, the Network for Excellence in Health Innovation (NEHI) released a report on “Health Care Without Walls.” The authors describe “Health Care Without Walls” as “a system that came to people, meeting them where they....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Mary Butler


Patient privacy is at a true premium in retail pharmacies. Patients can choose to present at a drive-thru window, a desk that shares space with a cash register or two, a consultation window, or a script drop-off area where the only privacy barrier is behind the coun....

Author: Sandefer, Ryan

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2019

By Ryan Sandefer, PhD, and Amy Watters, EdD, RHIA, FAHIMA


In the January issue of Journal of AHIMA, health information professionals were asked to take action by highlighting their work and the value of the health information management (HIM) profession through publishing. Yes, t....

Author: Watzlaf, Valerie J.M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Valerie Watzlaf, PhD, MPH, RHIA, FAHIMA


While I have not yet had the opportunity to do so, I am looking forward to participating in my first telehealth visit. While telehealth is an exciting new avenue for healthcare delivery, the success with which providers have deployed tele....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA | AHIMA practice brief

Publication Date: January 2019

Editor’s Note: This Practice Brief update supersedes the July 2015 Practice Brief titled “Best Practices in the Art and Science of Clinical Documentation Improvement.”





Clinical documentation improvement (CDI) is a discipline focused on improv....

Author:

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Clark Chaffin, MBA, RHIA, CCS


Health information management (HIM) departments across the United States, whether small or large, are experiencing a multitude of challenges and growing pains in today’s healthcare landscape. As more experienced members of the workforce are retirin....

Author: Sandefer, Ryan

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Ryan Sandefer, PhD, and Amy Watters, EdD, RHIA, FAHIMA


The May 2014 cover of Journal of AHIMA featured an image of a chameleon and the words “Adapt or Disappear.” This hyperbolic warning for health information management (HIM) professionals was delivered in the context of the r....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Mary Butler


When the once-dominant retailer Sears filed for bankruptcy in 2018, many attributed its decline—and that of brick and mortar retailers in general—to the existential threat of Amazon and online retail. While Amazon played a role in the demise of....

Author: Green, Deborah

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Deborah Green, MBA


Everything that is done in healthcare revolves around data and information. From new sources of data to new technological advancements, the drivers and needs for solid information management have not only grown but have become reinforced by and intertwin....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Moira Hunger, RHIT


Though hard to believe, a new fiscal year (FY) is already well underway. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule for the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) on August 17, 2018. All changes were e....

Author: Berry, Shamsi Daneshvari PhD, MS, CPHI; Flanigan, Jill

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Shamsi Daneshvari Berry, PhD, MS, CPHI, and Jill Flanigan, MLS, MS, RHIT


The European Union (EU) protects the personal information of EU citizens through the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),1 which went into effect on May 25, 2018 and replaced the Data Protection Dire....

Author: Stanfill, Mary H

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Mary H. Stanfill, MBI, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA


People like benchmarkS. They like to know how they are doing in comparison to someone else. In health information management (HIM), a common benchmark is the de facto standard of 95 percent accuracy rate for medical coding. HIM pr....

Author: Watzlaf, Valerie J.M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Valerie Watzlaf, PhD, MPH, RHIA, FAHIMA


As AHIMA transitions into our strategy reset, it is more important than ever to keep our passion for the HIM profession strong, as well as align our passions with what is best for our profession and association. So, how do we find our voi....

Author: Wiggs Harris, Wylecia

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, chief executive officer


Navigating change can be exciting—or it can be scary. It can be especially hard to cope when you feel like you’re right in the middle of change and you don’t know how everything’s going to turn out.


In his se....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

Most hospitals weathered the dreaded Y2K glitch with nary a problem, but nearly 20 years later, for even the largest electronic health record (EHR) vendors, turning the clock back for daylight saving time is a bridge too far.


“It’s an hour where you’re sort of flying blind,” said....

Author: Carey, Susan

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By Susan Carey, MHI, RHIT, PMP, FAHIMA


Outsourcing, whether delegating work to companies within the US or to other countries (offshore outsourcing), has become a strategic consideration and business model in many areas of the healthcare industry, including healthcare IT, health in....

Author: Shenton, William R JD

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2019

By William R. Shenton, JD


Wireless infusion pumps must provide a steady inflow of life-saving or life-sustaining medications, but these critical devices come with significant risks that every healthcare organization must address. To operate effectively and efficiently, i....

Author: AHIMA

Source: AHIMA practice brief | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

Editor’s Note: This update supersedes the 2013 Practice Brief “Redisclosure of Patient Health Information.”


Redisclosure is the act of sharing or releasing health information that was received from another source, such as an extern....

Author: Lalani, Karima; Gibbs, David

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Karima H. Lalani, MBA, RHIA, and David L. Gibbs, PhD, CPHI, CHPS, CPHIMS, CISSP


The practice of “interprofessional education” (IPE) is growing in importance across all healthcare disciplines, including health information management (HI....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Mary Butler


When handled poorly, the process of health information exchange can mimic the classic childhood game “Telephone.” Even though the person who kicks off the game whispers a message as clearly as they can to the person next....

Author: Meyer, Melanie; Fabian, Diane; Stearns, Michael; Doyle, Carlyn MSHI, RHIA, CHPS, HCISPP; Slivochka, Sharon RHIA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Melanie Meyer, PhD, MHA, RHIA, CCS, CPHQ; Carlyn Doyle, MSHI, RHIA, CHPS, HCISPP; Diane P. Fabian, MBA, MS, RHIA; Sharon Slivochka, RHIA; and Michael Stearns, MD, CPC, CFPC


Information exchange using the Consolidated-Clinical Document Arc....

Author: Bruce, Tina MHIM, MHI, RHIA, CCS, CDIP

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Tina Bruce, MHIM, MHI, RHIA, CCS, CDIP


Healthcare practices, clinical documentation improvement specialists, auditors, and coding professionals are on the edge of their seats anxiously awaiting the annual release of coding updates by the....

Author: Johnson, Laurie M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA | Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: November 2018

By Laurie M. Johnson, MS, RHIA, FAHIMA


Since the implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS in October 2015, the periodic coding updates have included many changes. For FY 2019, the diagnosis update includes a more manageable number: 279 new codes, 143 revised....

Author: Clack, Lesley; Kadlec, Lesley; Wendicke, Annemarie; Spiro, Shelly RPh

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Lesley Clack, ScD, MS; Lesley Kadlec, MA, RHIA, CHDA; Shelly Spiro, RPh; and Annemarie Wendicke, MPH, CHDA


Healthcare organizations are just beginning to leverage data analytics to take on a variety of emerging urgent topics related to ma....

Author: Coffey, Patricia S; McKeeby, Jon W; Starr, Marisa RHIA; Lardner, Michelle DNP, RN-BC

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Patricia Coffey, RHIA, CPHIMS, CPHI; Marisa Starr, RHIA; Michelle Lardner, DNP, RN-BC; and Jon Walter McKeeby, D.Sc., MBA, CPHIMS, CPHI


A robust information governance program helped the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (NIHC....

Author: Herrin, Barry S.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Barry S. Herrin, JD, FAHIMA, FHIMSS, FACHE


“We have met the enemy, and he is us,” said famous cartoonist Walt Kelly. The phrase can easily be applied to healthcare privacy and security threats.


According to a 2014 IBM study....

Author: Wiggs Harris, Wylecia

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, chief executive officer


In late 2017, a Vox.com article titled “The fax of life: Why American medicine still runs on fax machines” had people talking. It described the endurance of fax machines and their us....

Author: Fuller, Shannon MBA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Shannon Fuller, MBA


Healthcare has always focused on managing information from application to application, instead of looking at information holistically and defining it holistically. The industry’s shift of focus onto analytics—whethe....

Author: Smith, Diann H. MS, RHIA, CHP, FAHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

By Diann H. Smith, MS, RHIA, CHP, FAHIMA


It is hard to believe this is my last Journal of AHIMA column as AHIMA’s President/Chair of the Board of Directors. I am genuinely grateful to have joined you in bringing to life the theme for AHIMA’s....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2018

It’s not at all uncommon for organizations to change their names several times before landing on one that captures their presence in the past, the present, and the future—especially if they are technology-focused. Take NCR Corp., which today sells every....

Author: Viola, Allison F.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2018

By Allison Viola, MBA, RHIA


When innovative technologies make a splash on the international stage, healthcare professionals wonder how these technologies can translate or be scaled for the healthcare industry. Health information management (HIM) profession....

Author: Wiggs Harris, Wylecia

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2018

By Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, chief executive officer


This summer, the healthcare industry was reminded of the value of data with an announcement regarding the rules of ICD-10-CM. Coding Clinic published guidance reaffirming that providers can as....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2018

When a new technology emerges, there’s always a split between the early adopters and their more cautious counterparts. So when it comes to using a digital voice assistant like Amazon’s Echo, Google Home, or Apple’s Siri in a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU), do....

Author: Spears, Amanda MA, CHDA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2018

By Amanda Spears, MA, CHDA


Some people think that looking at numbers on a spreadsheet for more than 20 minutes is tantamount to torture. Others get excited uncovering trends and turning huge, complex datasets into simple, elegant reports that allow leaders....

Author: Smith, Diann H. MS, RHIA, CHP, FAHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2018

By Diann H. Smith, MS, RHIA, CHP, FAHIMA


Last month, I wrote about our commitment to create a vibrant future for AHIMA with clarity of strategy and resources aligned. This month, I want to explore how outreach to internal and external stakeholders upgrades....

Author: Dickey, John MSHI, RHIA, PMP

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2018

By John H. Dickey, MSHI, RHIA, PMP


The road to information governance (IG) varies greatly between healthcare organizations. Some organizations may compare it to a pathway with trampled grass, partially filled with gravel, while others find a freshly paved....

Author: Land, Daniel

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2018

By Daniel Land, RHIA, CCS


Coded data has a long and influential life span, and its importance goes beyond that of just today’s revenue cycle. It is important for health information management (HIM) professionals to understand the micro and macro purposes of cod....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2018

Mother’s Crusade to Help Daughter with Genetic Syndrome Leads to Work in Health Data Analytics Research


By Mary Butler









Megan O’Boyle keeps track of her daughter Shannon’s medical records using this voluminous binde....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2018

Specialty and Non-Acute Data Analytics Initiatives Offer Focus and Opportunity for HIM


By Mary Butler


In the fast-paced world of emergency medicine, it’s hard to conjure a metric that’s more important to both prospective patients and clinicians than emergency....

Author: Palkie, Brooke; Kerr, Katie MA, RHIA

Source: Journal of AHIMA | Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: October 2018

By Katie Kerr, MA, RHIA, and Brooke Palkie, EdD, RHIA


The World Health Organization (WHO) released ICD-11 in June 2018, 18 years after the launch of ICD-10. It has been hailed as a vast improvement and was released in a completely electronic format th....

Author: Thomas, Felicia A; Harding, Wahiyda A

Source: Journal of AHIMA | Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: October 2018

By Felicia A. Thomas, RHIT, CCS, CPC, CIC, CPC-I, CCDS, and Wahiyda Harding, MSA, RHIA, CCS


To understand the power of coded data, let’s first take a look at its definition. Data analytics is the science of examining raw data with the purpose of drawing conclus....

Author: Clack, Lesley; Houser, Shannon H.; Kadlec, Lesley; Mikaelian, Raymound; Wendicke, Annemarie; Cain, Jeannine MSHI, RHIA, CPHI; Spears, Amanda MA, CHDA

Source: Journal of AHIMA | AHIMA practice brief

Publication Date: October 2018

While the importance of data quality in providing high-quality clinical care in today’s healthcare setting is typically well understood, the quality of data for report building and validation activities is often not well articulated—and potential data quality....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

Examining the Past, Present, and Future of the Association through its Members


By Mary Butler


Etiquette experts abide by a set of rules about what makes for an appropriate wedding anniversary gift. Paper, for example, is advised for one-year anni....

Author: Campbell, Angela; Houser, Shannon H.; Paulson, Dawn; Ryznar, Barbara; Smith, Clarice Pittillo; Woebkenberg, Jami; Hernandez, Sandra MSMIS, RHIA, CPHI, CCS, CHC; Pirie-St. Pierre, Mari RHIA, CPHI; Plimpton, Julie MSHI, RHIA, CPHI

Source: AHIMA practice brief | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

Editor’s Note: This Practice Brief supersedes the September 2014 Practice Brief “Defining the Basics of Health Informatics for HIM Professionals.”


Data, data everywhere! We are living in the age of “Big Data” and healthcare informat....

Author: Bumgarner, Charlotte CDIP, CCS; Latva, Jennifer CCS, COC, CPC, CGSC

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Charlotte M. Bumgarner, CDIP, CCS, and Jennifer C. Latva, CCS, COC, CPC, CGSC


CODERS OFTEN RELY on a neoplasm’s behavior and location for ICD-10-CM code assignment, rather than first referencing histological type. This oversight can lead....

Author: Houser, Shannon H.; Harris, Shannon MBA, RHIA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

Using Health Informatics to Tackle Duplicate Medical Record Issues


By Shannon Harris, MBA, RHIA, and Shannon H. Houser, PhD, MPH, RHIA, FAHIMA


Are You battling with duplicate medical record issues in your organization? Data quality issues are trending....

Author: Primeau, Debra

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

Whether Due to Cyberattacks, System Upgrades, or Myriad Other Potential Causes, Healthcare Organizations Need Solid EHR Contingency Plans


By Debra Primeau, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA


In May 2016, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) p....

Author: Bowen, Rita K.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Rita Bowen, MA, RHIA, CHPS, CHPC, SSGB


Managing the disclosure of protected health information (PHI) is complex for a variety of reasons—the growing number of disclosure points, steeper penalties for noncompliance and breach, and the rise of....

Author: Dooling, Julie A; Kadlec, Lesley; Pruente, Megan; Ward, Maria; Woebkenberg, Jami; Butler-Henderson, Kerryn CHIA, FAHIMA; Ginn, Dustin MA, MHA, RHIA; Retallack, Donna RHIT; Young III, John RHIA, CHPS, CPHIMS, HCISPP

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Kerryn Butler-Henderson, CHIA, FAHIMA; Julie Dooling, MSHI, RHIA, CHDA, FAHIMA; Dustin Ginn, MA, MHA, RHIA; Lesley Kadlec, MA, RHIA, CHDA; Megan Pruente, RHIA; Donna Retallack, RHIT; Maria Ward, MEd, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P; Jami Woebkenberg, MHIM, RHIA, CPHI; and....

Author: Mason, Cheryl MSHI

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Cheryl Mason, MSHI


Health information management (HIM) professionals serve as the data stewards of the patient medical record. They are responsible for capturing all necessary information about a patient and managing that information over time. As....

Author: Hansen, Abby

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Abby Hansen, MHA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide rates have increased by more than 30 percent since 1999. In 2014, suicides accounted for 42,773 deaths in the United States; 2015....

Author: Hedges, Ron

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Ron Hedges, JD


Collection and use of biometric information may be useful to healthcare providers looking for new and better ways to positively identify patients as well as fight fraud. Biometric technologies include facial recognition, retinal....

Author: Clack, Lesley; Schecter, Aaron PhD

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Lesley Clack, ScD, and Aaron Schecter, PhD


The opioid epidemic has become a major topic of conversation in healthcare in the United States—in part because the statistics are staggering. According to the US Department of Health and Human S....

Author: Wiggs Harris, Wylecia

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, chief executive officer


You can tell a lot about an industry by reading its news headlines. Some recent examples illustrate how health information and patient data are becoming part of the transformation of the....

Author: Smith, Diann H.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Diann H. Smith, MS, RHIA, CHP, FAHIMA


AS HEALTH INFORMATION management (HIM) professionals, we must constantly evaluate our role in the healthcare ecosystem as the industry continues to evolve. After all, healthcare has many stakeholders and H....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

From its founding era to present day, AHIMA’s signature event has been its annual convention and exhibit. The event has consistently drawn the most talented health information management (HIM) professionals for educational sessions and keynote speakers, sporting ba....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2018

By Mary Butler


Anyone who has ever been to a doctor’s office or mental health provider where the seating area is sparse can quickly ascertain that they’re giving up some modicum of privacy to see that doctor. Tiny waiting areas with chairs or benches....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2018

By Mary Butler


Healthcare providers and health information management (HIM) departments have been learning the hard way—for some time—that no good deed goes unpunished.


Case in point is how providers embraced cli....

Author: Combs, Tammy

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: July 2018

By Tammy Combs, RN, MSN, CDIP, CCS, CCDS


Have you ever wondered what it means to be an effective communicator? In his article “Why Communication Is Today’s Most Important Skill,” Greg Satell discusses Michael Faraday, who helped tr....

Author: DeVoe, Megan

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: July 2018

By Megan DeVoe, CCS


Editor’s Note: This is the final article in a three-part series on how to master the information available on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website.


Have you ever wondered how a code bec....

Author: Fee, James P; Phillips, Rachel; Trepina, Sonia

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2018

By James P. Fee, MD, CCS, CCDS; Sonia Trepina; and Rachel Phillips, RHIA, CCS, CCDS


In an era of risk-adjusted payments, organizations—particularly those embarking on the journey toward becoming an Accountable Care Organization (ACO)&mdas....

Author: Viola, Allison F.; Halamka, John; Torkzadeh, Rita MS; Moscovitch, Ben MA; Rising, Josh MD; Asnaani, Jitin MBA; De Mooy, Michelle MA; Ferguson, Jamie BS; Gingrich, Mark MS; Grannis, Shaun MD; Heflin, Eric BS; Hohwald, Andrew MBA; Miri, Aaron MBA; Rudin, Robert S PhD; Schulten, Catherine BS; Worzala, Chantal PhD

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2018

By Rita Torkzadeh, MS; Ben Moscovitch, MA; Josh Rising, MD; Jitin Asnaani, MBA; Michelle De Mooy, MA; Jamie Ferguson, BS; Mark Gingrich, MS; Shaun Grannis, MD; Eric Heflin, BS; Andrew Hohwald, MBA; Aaron Miri, MBA; Robert S. Rudin, PhD; Catherin....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2018

Doctors and nurses get to witness firsthand how their interventions can save or lose a life. People who work for payers, like medical directors, may get a charge out of covering treatments for chronic conditions or lifesaving treatments. But for....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2018

Whatever the size and structure of the practice, and regardless of who is responsible for the query, general practices for escalation and retention should apply.

Timeframes


A pre-visit review of documentation may be usefu....

Author: Reiter, Autumn BSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS; Dixon, Lori A. MSN, RN-BC, CDIP

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2018

A Case Study in CDI Expansion at an 11-Hospital Health System


By Autumn Reiter, BSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS, and Lori A. Dixon, MSN, RN-BC, CDIP


Clinical documentation improvement (CDI) programs have proven they are worth t....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2018

Example #1: Diagnosis is documented but is not clinically validated




Dear Doctor,


COPD exacerbation is documented within the clinic note dated 3/5/xx.


There is no documentation in the current h....

Author: AHIMA

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2018

Physician practices vary greatly in terms of number of physicians, size of staff, type of setting, management structure, and even whether they have CDI and/or credentialed coding professionals. As the healthcare industry moves toward population....

Author: Mason, Cheryl MSHI

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2018

By Cheryl Mason, MSHI


Data and documentation in healthcare have become increasingly more complex. The healthcare industry’s push toward greater value means healthcare organizations must have systems in place to support high-level d....

Author: Hammerman, Julia

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2018

By Hammerman, RHIA, CPHQ


The ever-increasing complexity of healthcare is driving the need for coding quality and compliance programs. Given the transition to ICD-10, advancements in treatments and procedures, a move to quality reporting....

Author: DeVault, Kathryn; Sartori, Natalie

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2018

By Kathryn DeVault, MSL, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA, and Natalie Sartori, MEd, RHIA


All coding professionals have been involved in coding audits, in one form or another. Many hear the term “coding audit” and expect it to be a quality....

Author: Land, Daniel

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2018

Untitled Document





By Daniel Land, RHIA, CCS


When one reaches a certain point in their career, thoughts often turn to the subject of legacy. While there are myriad ways to give back to one’s profession, mentoring those with the earne....

Author: Butler, Mary

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2018

Untitled Document





By Mary Butler


Meet Maria, a fictional emergency department (ED) registration clerk who’s been on the job at a big city trauma center for six months. When Maria starts her shift she gets an alert that the patient p....

Author: Watson, Monica M

Source: Journal of AHIMA | AHIMA practice brief

Publication Date: June 2018

Documentation and Coding Practices for Risk Adjustment and Hierarchical Condition Categories


Risk adjustment is a statistical process that considers the underlying health status and health spending of patients when examining their healthcare outcomes....

Author:

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2018

Structure Concept

Details




Hierarchical


In the HCC models, HCC conditions are hierarchical, meaning diagnoses that are clinically related are ranked by....

Author: Wiggs Harris, Wylecia

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2018

By Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, chief executive officer


We don’t often see HIM in the headlines, due to the “behind the scenes” nature of the profession. But we may be seeing that change as patients and patient advocates ma....

Author:

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2018

Appendix D: MEAT approach details








Article citation:

. "Appendix D: MEAT approach details." Journal of AHIMA 89, no.6 (June 2018): extended online version.

....

Author:

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2018

Principle

Description




1. Clinically meaningful diagnostic categories


Each diagnostic category is a set of ICD-10-CM codes that relate to a reasonably well-s....