BHA FPX 4006 Assessment 2: Privacy and Data Breach in Healthcare Report IOM and Conceptualizing EHRs
Answer for BHA FPX 4006 Assessment 2: Privacy and Data Breach in Healthcare Report
IOM and Conceptualizing EHRs
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) played an instrumental role in the conceptualization of EHRs. One of the IOM’s vital functions in the process was to facilitate studies and creating reports for conceptualizing EHR. As Joos et al. (2019) explained, the IOM was involved in the naming process, including developing names such as electronic medical records, electronic charts, and computerized medical records. Getting such names looked forward to getting an electronic format of health records to replace paper charts. The IOM also developed the eight core functions of EHRs explaining what EHRs should perform to be functional. These core functions are relevant up-to-date and have been among the building blocks promoting EHRs’ usage in health practice.
The IOM’s Core Functions of EHR
As part of the IOM’s roles in conceptualizing EHR, it is important to examine the core functions of EHR applicable up-to-date. A leading function is health information and data characterized by facilitating immediate access to patients’ key information. Other functions include result and order management and decision support. As Zerwekh and Garneau (2020) explained, result management is founded on the principle that enabling healthcare providers to quickly access all test results (current and past) would enhance patient safety and care effectiveness. Order management involves the EHR’s capacity to enter and store orders related with tests and prescriptions among other vital services. Decision support helps to improve compliance with best clinical practices through reminders, alerts, and prompts.
Electronic communication and connectivity is among the IOM’s core functions for promoting efficient, safe, and timely communication among providers and patients. Such communication is critical for increasing timeliness of diagnoses and treatments and reducing adverse events. Patient support involves tools that enable patients to access their health records. A suitable example of such tools is patient portals. Zerwekh and Garneau (2020) noted that patient support provides interactive patient education to facilitate home-monitoring and illness management and control. Administrative processes include computerized tools in the administration processes such as scheduling systems to improve efficiency and offer timely services. Reporting is employing uniform data standards to respond to reporting requirements as stated in the federal, state, and private requirements.
Computer-Based Patient Record Institute (CPRI) and EHRs’ Conceptualization
Like the IOM, the role of Computer-Based Patient Record Institute (CPRI) in conceptualizing EHR was characterized by commitment towards health care evolution. CPRI worked towards computerizing patient records and engaged stakeholders to develop the basic components of a computer-based patient record before the name changed to EHR. As seen in the case of the IOM, the basic components of EHR became the building blocks for a complete, functional, and fully integrated EHR. Together with the IOM, CPRI defined the elements of an EHR system enabling developers to come up with systems that would facilitate information storage and sharing within and across health organizations. The IOM and CPRI also standardized the requirements and formats of what a functional system should encompass.
The HITECH Act, EHR Design, Use
An Act is a policy intervention to encourage, regulate, or control something. According to Onyejekwe et al. (2019), the HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act was established to promote information technology in healthcare as EHRs’ use becomes the standard. Signed into law in 2009, the HITECH Act is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Onyejekwe et al. (2019) further explained that the HITECH Act fixed some loopholes in the HIPAA Act by tightening the language to ensure that third party associates complied with HIPAA rules. The other major feature of the HITECH Act is requiring healthcare organizations to notify patients or health plan members in case of a breach in their files. The HITECH Act also introduced harsher penalties for HIPAA non-compliance.
The HITECH Act- Impact on EHR Design and Use
When it comes to the design, the HITECH Act ensures that EHR’s basic structure (architecture) complies with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. The other basic consideration is safeguards to uphold privacy and confidentiality of patient information maximally. On the use of EHRs, the HITECH Act advanced the HIPAA Act that gave patients the r