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Medical Records Briefing

Issue 12, December 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Gain support from medical staff with ongoing education

  It's a common complaint among HIM directors-a lack of support from the medical staff. However, to...

• Take time now to address these deleted DRGs

  Editor's note: This is the second in a two-part series. This month, we will cover the remaining...

• National provider identifier Q&A

  The May 23, 2007, national provider identifier (NPI) compliance date is fast approaching, and...

• Establish standards for record-keeping, monitor compliance to meet IM.4.10

  Editor's note: In the coming months, Jean S. Clark, RHIA, will review the JCAHO information...

• Meet the perils of review by 'outreviewing the reviewers'

  Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from the December 1987 MRB. To celebrate the...

Issue 11, November 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Make security a priority when going electronic

  Switching to an electronic health records system (EHR) is supposed to make life easier for your...

• Take time now to address these deleted DRGs

  Editor's note: This is the first in a two-part series. This month, we will cover the first four of...

• Focus on abbreviation, data use to comply with IM.3.10

  Editor's note: In the coming months, Jean S. Clark, RHIA, will review the JCAHO information...

• Cost accounting: What it means to HIM directors

  Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from the November 1986 MRB. To celebrate the...

Issue 10, October 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Educate staff now on changes in final IPPS rule

  The August 18 publication of the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule brought...

• Take a two-phase approach to NPI implementation

  Many organizations are currently preparing for the transition from existing legacy numbers to...

• Establish a remote coding program with these six steps

  If your facility doesn't have a remote coding program, it may be missing the boat on retaining...

• Planning, testing keys to meeting JCAHO information confidentiality and security

  Editor's note: In the coming months, Jean S. Clark, RHIA, will review the JCAHO information...

• Managers improve productivity by using copying firms

  Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from the October 1986 MRB. To celebrate the newsletter's...

Issue 9, September 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Cost-based weighting could be in final IPPS rule

  But overall outlook remains murky Editor's note: This article was written before CMS released...

• Willingness to learn, networking leads to success for new directors

  Twenty-two percent of HIM directors are 40-years old or younger, according to MRB's 2006 salary...

• Director increases preparation, has less interaction with JCAHO surveyors

  When Florida Hospital Heartland Division in Sebring had its JCAHO survey in March, there was very...

• Five steps to develop policies to reflect your legal record

  What may begin as a straightforward and relatively simple exercise-defining the legal health...

• This month's idea: Reinforce HIPAA training with periodic reminders

  Staff receive so much training-on compliance, accreditation, Medicare fraud and abuse, and...

Issue 8, August 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• New DRGs emphasize severity

  Editor's note: This article was written before CMS issued the 2007 Inpatient Prospective Payment...

• Take 'big bang' approach to transition to an electronic health record

  Having both paper and electronic records can impede efforts Some organizations transitioning to...

• Eight tips for creating an exam for prospective coders

  To ensure that their coders are top quality, many facilities give coding exams to candidates before...

• 2006 Medical Records Briefings Salary Survey

  2006 Medical Records Briefings Salary Survey

Issue 7, July 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Survey: HIM directors taking on more without additional compensation

  Editor's note: This article is the second in a two-part series. Figures represent the responses of...

• Catch up now on NPI preparation

  Providers have less than one year to get a lot done May 23, 2007, is the date HIPAA requires...

• Address clinical decision support in EHR policies

  Clinical decision support (CDS) is a special case of documentation and use of an electronic health...

Issue 6, June 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• IM.3.10 tops JCAHO's list of problematic standards for 2005

  If you need even more proof that HIM plays a major role in JCAHO compliance, take a look at the...

• Outline EHR rights, restrictions, when developing physician participation deals

  A look at two approaches to providing guidelines With the benefits of having an electronic...

• Four must-have components for your coder incentive plan

  Incentive plans can be a great way to improve coder productivity. They can be complex or simple...

• Manager solves personnel shortage, improves data with coding classes

  Editor's note: Following is an excerpt from the June 1989 MRB. To celebrate the newsletter's...

• Improve coding and billing with strict policy for incomplete documentation

  If you're still having difficulty getting your physicians to understand the importance of complete...

Issue 5, May 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Prepare HIM staff to play ongoing support role in JCAHO surveys

  Organizations share details of recent unannounced visits You and your staff may have little...

• Survey: Organizations still meeting transcription needs internally

  The majority of healthcare organizations still use their own staff to meet transcription needs and...

• Lessen EHR obstacles by involving legal counsel early

  If your organization wants to make a successful switch to an electronic health record (EHR), it...

• Now's the time to reassess HIPAA compliance

  Final enforcement rule to bring more investigations Publication of HIPAA's final enforcement...

• MRB blast from the past: Start spring cleaning in the records-filing area

  Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from the April 1987 MRB. To celebrate the newsletter's...

Issue 4, April 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Develop a policy for investigations to avoid staff confusion, missteps

  Education, assigned roles and responsibilities essential Most healthcare organizations are...

• Prepare for surveys by addressing these IM standards now

  3.10, 6.10, and 6.50 on JCAHO’s list of most-cited standards Organizations preparing this...

• Keep physicians involved, informed when switching to an electronic health record

  One of the major challenges for organizations transitioning from paper to electronic health records...

Issue 3, March 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Enjoy the benefits of remote coding while reducing the risks

  Security a big concern when allowing staff to work from home It’s not always easy to find...

• Survey: Organizations still behind in HIPAA compliance efforts

  It’s been almost three years since the compliance date for HIPAA’s privacy rule, and...

• Consider these techniques for managing change in HIM

  During the last meeting of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), I met...

• Don’t get caught off guard by the JCAHO’s new unannounced survey process

  Develop a ’disaster plan’ to help staff prepare As part of its effort to promote a...

Issue 2, February 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Proposed CoPs for hospitals aim to reduce administrative burdens

  HIM directors looking for administrative relief had much for which to be thankful in March 2005...

• Compliance officers look to HIM department for some help

  For those who think the HIM department’s responsibilities begin and end with HIM, think...

• Don’t trash your organization’s reputation by improperly disposing of computers

  Improperly disposing of computers or disks storing patients’ protected health information...

• Cross the bridge from document imaging to EHR

  When Harris Methodist HEB Hospital in Bedford, TX, began requiring physicians to complete records...

Issue 1, January 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Help staff help you: Tips for managing your employees’ stress

  The holidays can be an especially hectic time for staff. But let’s face it: There’s...

• Beware of Stark exceptions, OIG safe harbor for e-prescribing, EHRs

  Proposed regulations leave a lot to be desired In October 2005, CMS proposed exceptions to the...