HCPro.com: EHR Connection

EHR Connection is your connection to all the information you need to make your electronic health record efforts successful. You'll get tips each week on topics such as vendor selection, evaluating return on investment, getting buy-in from physicians and much more.

April 28, 2008 (Volume 5, Issue 17)	view entire issue

Schwarzenegger addresses security breaches affecting spouse, other celebrities
California governorArnold Schwarzenegger told The Sacramento Bee that his administration is working with UCLA Medical Center to address confidentiality breaches that resulted in unauthorized personnel viewing the records of celebrity patients—including his wife, Maria Shriver.

Electronic medical record use in physician offices increasing steadily
Only 29% of U.S. office-based physicians use EMRs, according to a 2006 Centers for Disease Control survey. This represents a dramatic increase from 17% in 2003, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported in an April 12 article.

E-prescriptions increasing, but still a rarity overall
The number of electronic prescription transactions in Texas has quintupled since 2005 to 1.8 million in 2007, but that number is deceiving the San Antonio Express-News reported April 7.

PPV: Ensure that your remote coding program’s security is up to par with CMS guidance and HIPAA
Devices and tools used to store and transmit electronic protected health information (ePHI), such as personal computers, flash drives, and remote access devices, are a source of growing concern at CMS. If your coders work remotely, now is the time to reexamine your security policies.

Tip: Anticipate patient-driven amendments when selecting an EHR
The HIPAA privacy rule permits patients to amend their medical records—and recognition of this right is on the rise as more hospitals transition from paper to EHRs.

Other recently-published articles from EHR Connection:

Medical identity thieves strike it rich with sophisticated techniques

Savvy healthcare consumers do their homework before selecting PHRs

Kaiser Permanente provides outpatient EHR access to 8.7 million

PPV: Handle medical record amendments as you move to EHRs

Tip: More definitions to ease transition from paper records to EHRs

Security breaches threaten privacy of hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide

’Holy trinity’ makes hospital data especially enticing to identity thieves

Security officers say they know the rules, but is patient information really safe?

PPV: Outsource your data storage-Reduce stress and remain HIPAA compliant without breaking the bank

Tip: Add these acronyms to your EHR dictionary

PPV: Don’t let voluminous paper overwhelm you during transition to an EHR

Most New Hampshire hospitals joining technology bandwagon

Medical Records Institute announces new TEPR Award

E-mail is what the patient wants, but not what the doctor ordered

Tip: Answers to some FAQs about EMRs

ABOUT HCPRO

PRESS

CAREERS @ HCPRO

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

ONLINE STORE

200 HOODS LANE

P.O. BOX 1168

MARBLEHEAD, MA 01945, USA

PHONE: 800/650-6787

FAX: 781/639-7857

Copyright Statement	Privacy Policy

*MAGNET™, MAGNET RECOGNITION PROGRAM®, and ANCC MAGNET RECOGNITION® are trademarks of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The products and services of HCPro, Inc. and The Greeley Company are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the ANCC