As privacy officer of a healthcare organization that includes about 12,000 employees in 14 hospitals and 30 clinics, Nancy Davis, MS, RHIA, CHPS, is a realist about one thing related to HIPAA compliance: Employees will make mistakes. They are human, after all.
The HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules require the development and implementation of policies. Covered entities must address all the standards in the rules
CMS released its proposed rule for stage 3 of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs (https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-0668...) in March. The intention is to simplify the EHR Incentive Programs, drive interoperability, and allow providers to further focus on patient care. The rule proposed a transition to a single meaningful use stage, with stage 3 being the final stage in the program. It would incorporate portions of stages 1 and 2.
Having recently returned from teaching the HCPro Accreditation Specialist Boot Camp, I was reminded that our medical staffs continue to have challenges with documentation requirements that have existed at least as long as most of us have been HIM professionals. I thought it was a good time to remind HIM professionals and their medical staff of 12 documentation requirements that are still a major focus during Joint Commission surveys, and persist in being a record completion challenge.
