Reflection Journal Healthcare Data, Essay Example

Introduction

The healthcare data is collected using the electronic health record (EHR) is organized and systematic collection of medical information. This medical information is collected in digital formats across the different healthcare settings, exchanges, and information networks. The EHR include patient’s demographics, pertinent medical history, types of medication, immunization or any medical pertaining to the patient’s entire medical history. The EHR information is stored in a healthcare database that is built to protect healthcare information. This platform stores the data and preserves the data for future use by all authorization healthcare providers. Every healthcare entity is responsible for building firewalls or security and privacy initiatives to ensure that the healthcare system is robust enough to protect healthcare information.

The protection of the EHR information is not just limited to the transfer of medical information from provider to provider but protecting patient’s medical information from incidental unauthorized release of medical information. The healthcare providers are using The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines to create a “Release of Information” document for every patient. This document allows the patients to list who can access their healthcare information and who is not authorized. The EHR is protected under federal law that must be followed by every healthcare entity in the United States. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act(HIPAA) is accountable for protecting privacy and security of healthcare information. The hospitals and all healthcare providers that handle healthcare information must follow the HIPAA guidelines to protect the EHR information.

Improvements-Storage of Data

The first area of improvement would be the storage of the physical documents. At any hospital or physician clinic you will see medical files that are accessible to everyone or the medical records are maintain in a large area just for the medical files. Many hospitals create the physical file when the patient arrives at the hospital, clinic, or physician office. However, many healthcare providers have not accepted or embraced the scanning technology that saves time, money and improves patient care. The healthcare providers can save thousands of dollars each year by adapting the digital scanning of documents of storage. Many companies are still paying large storage fees or paying additional space just to house the medical information and medical records. The physicians are trying to save money by using large storage flash drives that have the spacing capacity of a large server. As a result, the financial bottom lines are increasing because they no longer have to buy additional office space just for storage of medical documents (Gear, 2013).The adaptation of the scanning technology will ensure that provides are streamlining their processes that leads to improved quality of care for the patients. According to Washington Health Systems(2013),”Implementing eClinicalWorks and connecting with patients through its Patient Portal will help streamline processes in addition to improving both provider-to-provider and provider-to-patient communication”(pg.3).

Improvements-Sharing Data

The patient care can be improved with the timely sharing of medical information. The Obamacare will generate an information highway that consist of medical information from all providers. This will greatly reduce administrative costs while improve the speed of when a practitioners can access crucial healthcare data. The best example to show the need for improvement that can affecta patient’s care is the emergency room. The patient goes to the emergency room for a serious illnesshowever; the emergency room doctor has to request medical records from the primary physician by fax. This delay can be the different between life or death on many occasions. The healthcare clearinghouse or gateway can house all the medical information from any physician that is only accessible to the medical providers.The healthcare industry needs a virtual platform that can connect all the healthcare patient information in one place. The company eClinical Health Limited has launched a futuristic and need product that will digital connect medical information to providers from mobile and desktop options allowing immediate and accurate access to a patient’s medical information in real-timeClinicalHealth, 2013).This would improve patients care because the physicians or treating facilities would have real time data to give patients quality care. This would decrease cost because hospital providers would not have to spend more financial resources to store this data in a physical location. The data could be saved by the physician’s office electronically while being stored on the healthcare clearinghouse. This savings would be passed on to the patient.

The HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules indicate that a healthcare provider can charge a few for copies of the records from patients. If patients wants a personal copy of their medical records, they must pay for the paper copy. However, if the medical records are electronically stored, the patient can receive a free medical disk at no cost. The physicians would buy-in to the clearinghouse because they would no longer have to pay for office space for medical documents. The physicians moving from a paper based system of maintaining medical records to an electronic format will cut down on medical errors and inadvertent release of medical information. Some providers are still using paper, which has led to increased HIPAA audits that discover the violations of maintaining;protecting and storing medical information (Providers stumble after HIPAA audits, 2013).

Conclusion

My original thoughts about healthcare data was basic without knowledge of the privacy and security confidentiality factors. I have learned that healthcare data is protected by the federal government and there are protocols in place that government the protection of medical information. The information learned in class along with other extensive research led to The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which I was not aware about how this legislation protected my medical records. In addition, to learning about my own rights as a citizen concerning my own medical records and controlling who has access to them.

References

Bulkflashdrive.com (2013).Doctors office goes green with bulk flash drives. Retrieved from http://www.bulkflashdrives.com/dr-offices-go-green-with-flash-drives/

eClinicalHealth. (2013, October 13). eClinicalHealth to launch Clinpal Manufacturing close-up. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA345479108&v=2.1&u=20398_pclc&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w&asid=5c01a67004e041b1d003e6c1ecd71fb2

Providers stumble after HIPAA audits. (2013, July). Dermatology Times, 34(7), 21. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA339735101&v=2.1&u=20398_pclc&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w&asid=4071bec8a0c2dae066744ec3b2099808

Washington Health System Utilizes eClinicalWorks EHR. (2013, October 10). Health & Beauty Close-Up. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA345192682&v=2.1&u=20398_pclc&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w&asid=8906c824ecef9e33ccdedbc9e3c0c409