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PPV: Expect increased patient-driven amendments with EHRs

EHR Connection, April 14, 2008

The HIPAA Privacy Rule (section 164.526) permits patients to amend their medical records, and as more hospitals move toward an EHR, patient awareness of this right is increasing.

Patients are also becoming more astute with respect to information that physicians are documenting about their past and present medical history.

“As we use electronic health records at the point of care, the idea is to engage the patient more in seeing what’s happening with their healthcare,” says Margret Amatayakul, MBA, RHIA, CHPS, CPEHR, CPHIT, FHIMSS, president of Margret A. Consulting, LLC, in Schaumberg, IL. “All of that is good, but as a result of this, the patient has become more aware and more inclined to request an amendment.”

Some experts believe that increased patient awareness is one of CMS’ goals, and that mandatory EHR implementation is just one step toward accomplishing that goal.

Click here to learn more about the effect of EHRs on policies and procedures pertaining to the amendment of medical records.

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