Author: Orlova, Anna; Rhodes, Harry B.; Warner, Diana

Source: Journal of AHIMA | AHIMA practice brief

Publication Date: November 2016

Despite the many advancements in health information technology (HIT) that the industry has seen in recent years, the interoperability of HIT applications continues to present a challenge. Implementing standards—a definition, set of rules or guidelines, example format, or other document th....

Author: Crawford, Mark

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2011

Healthcare needs more than EHRs, it needs people who can implement and maintain them. New federally sponsored health IT exams set workforce competencies, helping job seekers demonstrate knowledge and employers benchmark qualifications.

As the US moves toward industry-wide adoption of....

Author: Kloss, Linda L

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2005

This month, Dallas will be the center of the health IT world as HIMSS hosts its 2005 trade show, of which AHIMA again will be a sponsor. We look forward to learning how electronic health record (EHR) solutions are maturing and how provider organizations are succeeding in improving patient care....

Author: Orlova, Anna

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2015

In 1898 Yale University graduate Charles Dudley, PhD, looked for a solution to the seemingly intractable problem of building a consensus on standards for industrial materials used on the Pennsylvania Railroad. To sooth the antagonistic attitudes that marred relationships between the Penns....

Author: Rhodes, Harry B.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2005

Establishing private-sector certification of health IT products is one of the key actions outlined by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in the report “The Decade of Health Information Technology: Delivering Consumer-centric and Information-rich Heal....

Author: Malone, Sue M.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 1997

Author: Scichilone, Rita A

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: May 2001

While this month's first "Coding Notes" article covers the bases of coding compliance across the continuum of care, this article offers some hard-hitting rules for playing the compliance game in outpatient hospital coding and reporting.

Staying abreast of all of the regulat....

Author: Mangin, Wendy L

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2008

By now I hope everyone has heard or seen an “It’s HI Time America” radio spot or public service announcement. This FORE-sponsored public service campaign was launched January 28 and will continue rolling out across the country throughout the first half of 2008.

The....

Author: Shaffer, Audrey

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2002

At the opening ceremony of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in 1994, thousands of balloons were released over the Chinese countryside as a symbol of the advanced medical care the hospital hoped to spread throughout China.


Hong Kong philanthropist Sir Run Run Shaw, along with the Zheji....

Author: Kloss, Linda L

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2007

It’s September, and students are back in school. Therefore the first Journal issue of the fall focuses on education. When we discuss education at AHIMA, we always think in two dimensions: the academic preparation of HIM experts and continuing education for those already in the field. The....

Author: Tomes, Jonathan P.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2005

To avoid the improper destruction or alteration of records, HIM departments must follow a retention schedule, train personnel, and ensure that corrections leave original entries intact.
Although the legal concept known as spoliation of evidence has been a part of the American legal syste....

Author: Siegel, Barbara

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2003

Remember eating alphabet soup when you were young? What fun it was finding words or even making up new ones. We did not know then that a part of our future was spelled out before us.


Since 1928, our HIM credentials have demonstrated professionalism and expertise. Remember when....

Author: Winter, Kitt; Hastings, Bob

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2011

The Social Security Administration has plenty of reasons to streamline its records request process-more than 15 million reasons each year, in fact. That's why it has been pioneering information exchange projects with the private sector, including use of the Nationwide Health Informa....

Author: Schwager, Rob

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2000

Speech recognition technology continues to develop. Now, with additional enhancements, the latest models offer solutions for entire enterprises. The author rounds up the latest developments.
Most healthcare organizations and clinicians today have automated some portion of their health in....

Author: AHIMA

Source: AHIMA practice brief | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2013

Introduction


Many technologies exist to assist with better clinical documentation and speech recognition technology (SRT) is one solution. Since SRT uses mathematic probabilities, the technology can be complicated. The goals of its use in healthcare today, however, are clear: Increase....

Author: Biedermann, Sue E.; Burrington-Brown, Jill

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2003

How can you share your expertise? Consider a career in education, where plenty of opportunities await you—and the profession needs you.
Educators play a critical role in the viability of the HIM profession. But will there be enough of them to sustain the profession in the future? If....

Author: Haines, Pamela T.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: April 2004

If you are writing business associate agreements for a healthcare provider these days, you have probably discovered there are often no magic words or formulas that will produce an agreement. Although sample forms available from various sources may be helpful, generally no two business associat....

Author: Blumenthal, Jane E

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2000

Her voice bubbling with enthusiasm, Ramona Fissinger, RHIT, describes her job as "typical of most other medical records director positions." But Fissinger, director of medical records services at the Community Hospital in Munster, IN, has a passion for health information mana....

Author: Pickard, Bryon

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: June 2007

Ask 10 different policy makers the question “How can we improve patient safety and healthcare quality?” and you will likely hear 10 very different responses. Now consider the 535 representatives and senators who make up the 110th US Congress, the thousands of state and local legisl....

Author: Hicks, Jewelle E

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2007

Melanie S. Loucks, MA, RHIT, is a terminology analyst for the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) in Salt Lake City, UT. In this role, she participates in developing the process for implementing standardized terminology for use in the VA’s electronic health record (EHR). As part of her rol....

Author: Chebeleu, Rachel C.; Partee, Jeff

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2006

When it comes to evaluating and purchasing e-HIM® technology, effective communication between the HIM and IT departments is essential. For HIM professionals with a seat at the planning table, there are two key components of a successful working relationship with your CIO: understanding prioriti....

Author: McCoy, Michael J.; Bomentre, B. J.; Crous, Kate

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: April 2006

Being EHR-conversant begins with a review of EHR components, general issues in integrating systems, and how IT projects start.
Setting off on the EHR journey, or any single leg of it, requires being conversant in the common elements that comprise EHRs, the general choices in integrating t....

Author: Brouch, Kathy L.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2004

How will SNOMED CT change the way health information is managed? An educational session captured the basic concepts that HIM professionals need to know.

It’s important to understand the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) because it is increasingly being....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2009

Forty-four states require organizations to alert customers and employees when data breaches occur. But ambiguity in the laws requires organizations to be capable of making good decisions on their own.

The laptop was missing.

Previously stationed in the EEG department of Nor....

Author: Youmans, Karen

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: January 2001

FRGs, RIC, CMGs, FIM, MDS-PAC, IRF, RPPS, UDSMR...What do these letters mean? They are all part of the inpatient rehabilitation prospective payment system (RPPS). This article will explain the history and key pieces of this system.

A Brief History of PPS

As we know,....