ahima definition of patient portal as a part of health records

Patient portals are one way organizations can engage patients in their healthcare. They enable.... You are trying to access a resource only available to AHIMA members.

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What is the purpose of the personal health information system?

Educates the individual about personal health information Assists the individual with decision making and health management and wellness (e.g., reminders of health activities, health risk assessments, and public health and patient safety alerts) Is flexible and expandable to support evolving health needs of the individual and family

What is a legal health record AHIMA?

Legal health record: AHIMA defines the legal health record as "generated at or for a healthcare organization as its business record and is the record that would be released upon request. It does not affect the discoverability of other information held by the organization.

What is a medical record under HIPAA?

A group of records maintained by or for a covered entity that is the medical and billing records about individuals; enrollment, payment, claims adjudication, and case or medical management record systems maintained by or for a health plan; information used in whole or in part by or for the HIPAA covered entity to make decisions about individuals.

What does AHIMA stand for?

AHIMA. "Fundamentals of the Legal Health Record and Designated Record Set." Journal of AHIMA 82, no.2 (February 2011): expanded online version.

What is a patient portal in healthcare?

A patient portal is a secure online website that gives patients convenient, 24-hour access to personal health information from anywhere with an Internet connection. Using a secure username and password, patients can view health information such as: Recent doctor visits. Discharge summaries. Medications.

Is a patient portal part of an EHR system?

PHRs, EHRs and patient portals A PHR that is tied to an EHR is called a patient portal. In some but not all cases you can add information, such as home blood pressure readings, to your record via a patient portal. If that's the case, you may not want to create a separate, standalone PHR .

Is a patient portal the same as a personal health record?

A patient portal is a type of personal health record (PHR) that is connected to an electronic health record (EHR) system. Patient portals provide a secure website through which patients can access their clinical data.

What is the definition of access according to the patient access to health information policy?

Access means that patients may inspect their medical records and billing records under the supervision of a staff member for which an inspection fee is charged; or obtain a copy of all or a portion of their medical records and billing records for which a copying fee is charged.

Why is patient portal important in healthcare?

A patient portal is a website for your personal health care. The online tool helps you to keep track of your health care provider visits, test results, billing, prescriptions, and so on. You can also e-mail your provider questions through the portal. Many providers now offer patient portals.

What should be included in a patient portal?

A robust patient portal should include the following features:Clinical summaries.Secure (HIPAA-compliant) messaging.Online bill pay.New patient registration.Ability to update demographic information.Prescription renewals and contact lens ordering.Appointment requests.Appointment reminders.More items...

What makes a patient portal different from a PHR?

Patient portals are distinct from PHRs because they are tethered to the clinician-facing EHR. Most EHR vendors sell patient portals as a part of the overall software suite, and patient portals came to prominence as a part of meaningful use requirements.

What types of patient portals are there?

There are two main types of patient portals: a standalone system and an integrated service. Integrated patient portal software functionality usually comes as a part of an EMR system, an EHR system or practice management software. But at their most basic, they're simply web-based tools.

What is the difference between medical records and health records?

An EMR contains the standard medical and clinical data gathered in one provider's office. Electronic health records (EHRs) go beyond the data collected in the provider's office and include a more comprehensive patient history. The information stored in EMRs is not easily shared with providers outside of a practice.

What is meant by patient access?

In the most basic sense, patient access refers to the ability of patients and their families to take charge of their own health care. With the advent of the internet and digital marketing, medical practices and businesses have a new way to reach their target audiences.

What types of records are not able to be accessed by the patient?

In addition, two categories of information are expressly excluded from the right of access: Psychotherapy notes, which are the personal notes of a mental health care provider documenting or analyzing the contents of a counseling session, that are maintained separate from the rest of the patient's medical record.

Should patients have access to their medical records?

The studies revealed that patients' access to medical records can be beneficial for both patients and doctors, since it enhances communication between them whilst helping patients to better understand their health condition. The drawbacks (for instance causing confusion and anxiety to patients) seem to be minimal.

What are the different types of patient portals?

There are two main types of patient portals: a standalone system and an integrated service. Integrated patient portal software functionality usually comes as a part of an EMR system, an EHR system or practice management software. But at their most basic, they're simply web-based tools.

What is the most popular patient portal?

Top 10 Patient Portal Software By EMRSystemsEpic EHR Software's MyChart.athenahealth EMR Software's athenaCommunicator.PrognoCIS EMR Software.Cerner Specialty Practice Management Software.eClinicalWorks EMR Software's Patient Portal and Healow App.Greenway PrimeSUITE EHR Software.NextGen Healthcare EHR Software.More items...•

What are the disadvantages of patient portals?

Even though they should improve communication, there are also disadvantages to patient portals....Table of ContentsGetting Patients to Opt-In.Security Concerns.User Confusion.Alienation and Health Disparities.Extra Work for the Provider.Conclusion.

What is remote patient monitoring used for?

The ability to monitor certain aspects of a patient's health from their own home has become an increasingly popular telehealth option. Remote patient monitoring lets providers manage acute and chronic conditions. And it cuts down on patients' travel costs and infection risk.

What is an individual's medical record?

An individual's record can consist of a facility's record, outpatient diagnostic test results or therapies, pharmacy records, physician records, other care providers' records, and the patient's own personal health record. Administrative and financial documents and data may be intermingled with clinical data.

What is legal health record?

The legal health record serves to identify what information constitutes the official business record of an organization for evidentiary purposes. The legal health record is a subset of the entire patient database. The elements that constitute an organization's legal health record vary depending on how the organization defines it.

What is the category of external records and reports?

The decision of which category external records and reports fall into depends on the applicability of HIPAA privacy rules, state law or regulation, source of the request, and type of request. If external records and reports are used to make decisions about an individual, they become part of the designated record set.

What is the privacy act of 1974?

The Privacy Act of 1974, like the HIPAA privacy rule, gives individuals the right to access and request amendments to their records.

What is administrative data?

Administrative data, which is patient-identifiable and used for administrative, regulatory, or other healthcare operations, such as event history/audit trails, data used for quality assurance or utilization management, data prepared in anticipation of legal action, etc.

What are some examples of patient-identifiable data?

There are many types of patient-identifiable data elements that are pulled from the patient's healthcare record that are not included in the legal health record or designated record set definitions. Administrative data and derived data and documents are two examples of patient-identifiable data that are used in the healthcare organization.

What is pre-emption HIPAA?

Apply HIPAA's pre-emption standards where individuals' rights to access and amend are not the same under other federal or state laws and regulations. There may be times when an individual has a legitimate need to access source data that are not considered part of the legal health record or designated record set.

What is the HIPAA privacy rule?

The HIPAA privacy rule provides patients with specific rights to their health information. Regulations applied to covered entities (healthcare plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and healthcare providers who transmit specific transactions electronically), as well as the business associates of these organizations, established an individual’s right to access and amend their PHI in all but a limited number of situations. This includes PHI in any media (paper, electronic, or oral) that is maintained by a covered entity or its business associate. The Patients’ Right to Access must be granted within 30 days regardless of record location (onsite vs. offsite) and regardless of media type. One 30-day extension applies but must be communicated to the patient and documented. Any denial of access also needs to fit within this 30 day/60 day time frame.

What happens if a patient submits a statement of disagreement?

If the patient submitted a statement of disagreement, the organization will disclose all information listed above or an accurate summary of such information with all future disclosures of PHI to which the disagreement relates.

Can a covered entity deny access to a PHI?

Individuals have the right to inspect and obtain copies of their PHI outlined within the organization’s designated record set, with a few exceptions 1. Covered entities may deny patient access without providing the patient an opportunity to review the designated record set in the following circumstances:

What is the purpose of AHIMA?

To enhance individuals’ access to their information, AHIMA believes that public policy that seeks to increase and automate individual access to health information must: Guarantee an individual’s right to access his or her health information.

What is HI in healthcare?

Health information (HI) professionals are the frontline professionals when individuals seek access to their health information, and they have the expertise and knowledge to inform and enhance public policy that seeks to improve individuals’ access to their health information .

When is the AHIMA call for 2021?

January 5, 2021. AHIMA Calls for Biden Administration and Congress to Ensure Health Information is at Forefront of Health Policy. AHIMA calls for the incoming administration to consider the implications of health information as they begin to implement new health policies in 2021. January 4 , 2021.

Do hospitals have access to health information?

Today, nearly all hospitals provide patients with the ability to electronically view and download their health information. However, despite these technological advances and the right of individuals to access their health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ...

What is a portable health information?

Is portable (remains with the individual) Helps the individual organize personal health information. Educates the individual about personal health information. Assists the individual with decision making and health management and wellness (e.g., reminders of health activities, health risk assessments, and public health and patient safety alerts) ...

What is AHIMA PHR?

AHIMA Releases Definition, Attributes of Consumer Health Record. The personal health record (PHR) will play a key role in the move to a safer, more efficient, consumer-driven US healthcare system. It will be a valuable asset to individuals and families, enabling them to integrate and manage their healthcare information using secure, ...

What is a PHR?

Definition of the PHR. The personal health record ( PHR) is an electronic, lifelong resource of health information needed by individuals to make health decisions. Individuals own and manage the information in the PHR, which comes from healthcare providers and the individual. The PHR is maintained in a secure and private environment, ...

What is a standard-driven health information technology?

Achieves easy, accurate, and consistent exchange with others by using communication and health vocabulary standards. Standard-driven to support evolving health information technology. Supports structured data collection from individual and stores information using a defined vocabulary.

Is a provider's medical record restricted by any one format?

Not restricted by any one format. Not the legal record or electronic health record of a provider. Not restricted by culture or language. Providers use their professional judgment, as they do with any patient-supplied history, for clinical decision support or health management of the individual.

Abstract

In 2001, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) emphasized the need for patients to have greater control over their health information.

Introduction

In the 2001 report Crossing the Quality Chasm, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) called for a new approach to the delivery of healthcare in America. 1 This report pointed out that despite remarkable advances in the fields of computer and medical sciences, the quality of healthcare leaves much to be desired.

Methods

Partners HealthCare operates and maintains an extensive clinical information system with a fully electronic ambulatory health record that is used by providers and staff in day-to-day care of patients. This EHR, called the longitudinal medical record (LMR), was internally developed in 2000.

Results

Patient Gateway was developed to be consistent with HIPAA requirements, putting in place mechanisms to help prevent the unauthorized disclosure of or inappropriate access to health information and maximize the security of health information transmitted via the Internet.

Discussion

The 2001 IOM report Crossing the Quality Chasm emphasized the importance of patients having access to their medical information. 21 It called for the use of IT to increase patient knowledge and open patient-physician communication. That same year, federal HIPAA regulations mandated the need for patient access to medical records.

Conclusion

The authors have been able to use the Patient Gateway tool to approach the vision of IOM. Compliance with the new HIPAA privacy rule in doing this was less difficult in many ways than had been expected.

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Elena Cotto, Joseph L. Ferrari, Phyllis Kaplan, and Elizabeth Nelson of the Partners Patient Gateway Team for their contributions.

Abstract

Patient-centered healthcare initiatives are underway to enable patients to take more responsibility for their healthcare. To do so, patients must be able to access, utilize, and share their health information.

Introduction

This research was undertaken to identify contemporary practices in providing patients with access to their health information.

Background

Patient-centered healthcare initiatives are underway to enable patients to take more responsibility for their healthcare. To do so, patients must be able to access and share their health information. 1–3 Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), patients have a right to see and obtain a copy of their medical records.

Methods

Under a partnership between Texas State University and the AHIMA Foundation, selected AHIMA members were invited to complete an anonymous survey regarding policies and practices surrounding patients’ access to their health information.

Results

Of the 2,444 AHIMA members invited to participate in the survey, 313 responded, resulting in a 12.8 percent response rate. All but three states and the District of Columbia were represented in the responses.

Discussion

These survey results were similar to previous studies that revealed wide variation in whether patients were being charged for their medical records and the fees that were being charged. The results also demonstrate adoption of EHRs and availability of patient portals.

Conclusion

The healthcare industry is at a crossroad of converging technology and regulations influencing patients’ access to their personal health information. This research revealed wide variation in contemporary practices affecting patient access.

Background

Exceptions to A Patient’S Right to Access

A Patient’S Right to Amend Phi

Other Issues That Need to Be Addressed

Appendix A: Sample Amendment Policy and Procedure

• Policy
  A patient has the right to request an amendment to his or her health record per 45 CFR §164.526 of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, and it is the policy of this organization to respond to any amendment requests in accordance with this rule. The Health Information Management (HIM) Department, P…
• Procedure
  1. The patient will be directed to the HIM department to complete the Request for Amendment form according to HIPAA Privacy Rule. (Only written requests will be accepted.) 2. The HIM department representative will forward the request to the Privacy Officer for review and processi…

See more on library.ahima.org

Sample Patient Request For Amendment Form

Acknowledgements

References