How Data Validation Will Make Your Life Easier

As a clinician, you want to know if data being entered into the system is accurate, clean, correct and useful. Data validation often called “validation rules” or “check routines” are built into systems such as EHR systems. These rules check for correctness, meaningfulness, and security of data. For example, the system would automatically disallow or question a user trying to enter eligibility results into the patient’s address field.

Exploring HIPAA and HITECH Act Definitions: Part 3

From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification and securing of protected health information. We begin the first series of postings with definitions from “Health Insurance Reform; Modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); Final Rules,” Federal Register, January 16, 2009. 45 CFR 162, Administrative Requirements: 162.103, Definitions.

Exploring HIPAA and HITECH Act Definitions: Part 2

From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification and securing of protected health information. We begin the first series of postings with definitions from “Health Insurance Reform; Modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); Final Rules,” Federal Register, January 16, 2009. 45 CFR 162, Administrative Requirements: 162.103, Definitions.

Exploring HIPAA and HITECH Act Definitions: Part 1

From now through November, HIPAA.com is providing a run through of HIPAA transaction & code set, privacy, and security definitions, along with relevant HITECH Act definitions pertaining to breach notification and securing of protected health information. We begin the first series of postings with definitions from “Health Insurance Reform; Modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); Final Rules,” Federal Register, January 16, 2009. 45 CFR 162, Administrative Requirements: 162.103, Definitions.

Vendors and Physicians Partners in Meaningful Use?

Preparedness for meaningful use reporting is dependent on the EHR vendor capabilities and the physician’s adoption of privacy and security rule updates. One isn’t more responsible than the other.

Word of the Day: Pay-for-Performance

The use of incentives to encourage and reinforce the delivery of evidence-based practices in the health care system transformation that promote better outcomes as efficiently as possible.

Word of the Day: Interoperability

The ability to exchange and use information (usually in a large heterogeneous network made up of several local area networks). Interoperable systems reflect the ability of software and hardware on multiple machines from multiple vendors to communicate.

Word of the Day: Electronic Media

Electronic storage media including memory devices in computers (hard drives) and any removable/transportable digital memory medium, such as magnetic tape or disk, optical disk, or digital memory card; or transmission media used to exchange information already in electronic storage media. Transmission media include the Internet (wide open), extranet (using Internet technology to link a business with information accessible only to collaborating parties), leased lines, dial-up lines, private networks, and the physical movement of removable/transportable electronic storage media. Written communications sent via facsimile (not from one computer to another) and verbal information exchanges are not considered electronic media.