The Evolution of Health Care Paper and Timeline

The Evolution of Health Care Paper and Timeline

Vanessa Jones

HCS/531

February 11, 2013

Mary Robinson

The Evolution of Health Care Paper and Timeline

The terms Electronic Medical Records systems referred to as EMR or Electronic Health Records EHR are used interchangeably. EMR/EHR systems are changing the way every day things are getting done health organizations. Technology is moving into the health care industry and changing the way medical records for patients are done as well as viewing these records. Gone are the paper trails and the expensive need for long - storage of patient medical records (Scott, 2011). All health providers, health organizations, and government health plans required to comply with the privacy regulations of HIPAA laws when using, storing, maintaining, or transmitting patient health care information or face stiff penalties. According to MedicalRecords.com (2009-2012, 8th para.), "Super-confidential medical records containing drug and alcohol, mental health and HIV information are subject to more stringent federal and State laws under HIPAA. As a result, physician practices must determine if medical records contain super-confidential information before releasing them."

How EMR and HIPAA has Changed the Delivery of Health Care

EMRs are another way technology is creating change in the way documentation on patients and the types of care they are getting. EMR is becoming a standard practice for tracking patient information and office visits. Doctors are can share information across networks. Providers must inform patients of their HIPAA privacy and security rights and must outline the policies and procedures they undertake to meet these obligations (MedicalRecord.com, 2009-2012, 2nd para.). EMR has the potential to improve the quality of patient care (Scott, 2011). A government program known as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) has begun offering incentives for health care providers to adopt the system. HITECH Act is currently offering incentives to health care organization to change or shift to the EMR system. There are stringent stipulations to the health care providers who have not placed an EMR system into place by the 2015 deadline. Medicare will place a 1% reduction per five years or until an EMR system is adopted on the reimbursement rate the health care organization will receive (Scott, 2011). Health organizations are required to comply with HIPAA regulations or face stiff penalties. "Fines apply to persons that willfully neglect to comply with HIPAA and range from $10,000.00 per violation to $50,000.00 per violation, up to $1.5 million per calendar year for one "identical violation," if corrective action is not taken in the case of willful neglect to comply with HIPAA. In other words, a specific violation of an "identical requirement or prohibition" may not exceed $1.5 million during a calendar year "(HIPAA Solutions, n. d., 3rd para.).

EMR and HIPAA Impact on Quality of Care

Electronic medical records (EMR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) has improved the quality of care that patients are receiving. Not all providers have implemented the EMR that the Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) have mandated. However, the HIPAA has been implemented by all providers and health care industry providers in the United States. Probably the reason for abiding by the HIPAA is the possible criminal penalties for violation.

The HIPAA was enacted out of the concern of patients not wanting their medical records review by anyone that did not have a right to review the records and protecting insurance coverage for people who lost or change his or her jobs. It is a violation of HIPAA for any health care entity to disclose sensitive personal health information (PHI) without the consent of the patient. The primary goal of the law is to make it easier for people to keep health insurance, protect the confidentiality and security of health care information and help the health care industry control administrative costs. According to Sebelius (2009), "The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) of 2009, strengthen the enforcement of the HIPAA rules by establishing categories of violations that reflect increasing levels of culpability. Penalty determination is based on the nature and extent of the violation and extent of the harm resulting from the violation." (p. 56124). The HIPAA Act has given patients protection against their medical records review by anyone that do not have a right to his or her PHI.

Electronic health records (EHR) are information technology (IT) application to store electronically and transmit patients' person health information. According to Shi and Singh (2012), "The adoption of (EHR) system will lead to major savings in health care costs, reduce medical errors, and improve health; however, the adoption of EHR's has been slow, particularly among physicians" (p. 164). The adoption of the EHR system will eliminate the cost of storing patient's records in warehouses and paying for security. This resulted in a cost- savings for those health care facilities and physicians who have implemented the program. The federal government has initiated an incentive program under the HITECH Act to promote adoption of the EHR by providers and health care facilities. The providers and health care faculties must provide evidence that they have an EHR system in place, according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2013), "eligible professionals must begin participation by 2012. The incentive can range from $40,000 to $65, 000 for physician and up to $11million for hospitals. Each must show meaningful use in areas such as quality, safety, efficiency, reduction of health care disparities, patient engagement, care coordination, and security of health information" (p. 1-4). When physicians and consumers have buy-in into the EHR system, health care in this country will improve because health care professional nationwide will be able to access a patient's PHI no matter where individuals reside in the country.

Societal Beliefs and Values and Their Potential Influence on this Change

Privacy is one of the most integrated parts of the health care industry. It has been questioned whether the use of EMR would impact HIPAA privacy laws, and whether