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2017 Article Archive

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December 2017

features

The Quest for a Better Records Request Strategy
The release of a federal report based on user insights has the industry reassessing its release of information processes.

Funding, Personnel Issues Hamper Cybersecurity Efforts
Protecting health information data takes financial backing from the C-suite to obtain technology and talent.

Reimbursement Analysis Offers Investment Protection
Before adding new service lines or technology, it's prudent that health care organizations ascertain whether the investment will pay off.

Image Conscious
The move to store multimedia in EHRs has created an opportunity for HIM professionals to assume information governance leadership roles.

departments

Editor's Note

Chart Conundrums
Even in the age of electronic recordkeeping, the integrity of documentation looms large in the effort to provide the best possible patient care.

HIM Challenges
Computer-assisted coding has plenty to offer but coders must be cognizant of becoming overreliant on the tool.

Evolving Education
Recent coding graduates talk about the skills and characteristics that helped them land that elusive first coding position.

Coding Corner
The 2018 CPT manual features a slew of additions and deletions to radiology services.

Datebook

2018 Outlook
In terms of federal incentives, the new year may be a game-changer for behavioral health caregivers and patients.

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


November 2017

features

HIM Consolidation on the Upswing
Many experts believe the benefits of centralizing HIM departments outweigh the drawbacks.

Information Governance's Role in Value-Based Care
An IG plan can play a key role in any organization's efforts to conform to a new payment system.

The Proof Is in the Proofing
Talented transcription teams remain a key ingredient in any successful speech recognition operation.

The Price of EHR Downtime
A system on the fritz carries serious consequences besides the obvious strain on patient safety.

departments

Editor's Note

Ask the Experts
Some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry tackle reader questions regarding documentation and coding.

Chart Conundrums
Clinical documentation improvement specialists must walk a fine line between questioning provider judgment and clinical validation.

HIM Challenges
New quality measures surrounding informed consent are set to make their mark on health care operations.

News Briefs

Audit Alley
EHRs have taken their fair share of criticism, but there's no denying they can be valuable tools in the fight to prevent lack of authorization denials.

Datebook

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


October 2017

features

Preventing Stress, Avoiding Burnout
Coders may find it hard to believe, but it is possible for coding departments to be tension-free.

Next-Generation Patient Recruitment for Clinical Trials
EHRs may hold the key to improving the outlook on burdensome patient recruitment processes, but hurdles remain.

Is It Possible to Curtail Copy and Paste?
For years, the practice has been a thorn in health care's side, but best practices and value-based care may start easing the pain.

In Case of Emergency …
The NotPetya attack wreaked havoc on hospital information systems, presenting another example of why backup plans are so vital.

departments

Editor's Note

HIM Challenges
Data analytics can help health care organizations keep tabs on coder performance and revenue cycle abnormalities.

EHR Insider
Ensuring EHRs meet user needs with little or no risk to patient safety must be a collaborative effort.

Thought Leader Q&A
Meet two of the leaders behind New Jersey's effort to establish a patient identification system.

Fall Showcase

HIPAA Challenges
Patient engagement through digital means such as text messaging and mobile apps comes with its share of HIPAA concerns.

News Briefs

Datebook

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


September 2017

features

Embrace Risk Adjustment
Experts say coders would be wise to become familiar with the latest payment methodologies.

The Kids Are All Right
Telepediatric initiatives are making a difference in the lives of many families.

The Right Mix
What ingredients are essential to a successful HIT initiative?

Indefatigable RACs Plow Ahead
New rules, points of emphasis, and contractors highlight the latest iteration of the auditing program.

departments

Editor's Note

mHealth Update
The market for apps and other mobile solutions looks promising but there are obstacles to clear before the interests of all parties will be met.

Evolving Education
Streaming video can serve as a valuable learning tool for patients and health care professionals alike.

HIT Happenings
With the right infrastructure, natural language processing has the potential to deliver powerful results.

Transcription Trends
An industry expert offers tips on how to measure the job performance of health care documentation specialists and quality assurance auditors.

Training & Education Resource Guide

Coding Corner
October 1 brings significant changes to both ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS.

Datebook

News Briefs

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


August 2017

features

A Matter of Location
Learn the factors health care organizations should weigh when deciding where to house their EMR.

Make Documentation a Two-Way Street
Banner Health System's decision to adopt a patient charting initiative has been a winning proposition for all those involved.

Swift Response Can Limit Cyber Attack Damage
How a health care organization reacts to a security breach incident will go a long way toward determining its fate.

HIEs Serve Communities of All Sizes
As Colorado and Rhode Island can attest, meeting patients' needs depends on a series of crucial factors.

departments

Editor's Note

Industry Perspectives
The jolt from the arrival of ICD-10 was real, but its effects on the coding industry are mainly in the rearview mirror.

HIPAA Challenges
Organizations electing to collect silver emulsoid from old X-rays must keep in mind HIPAA regulations.

Washington Scene
Designed to strengthen patient data security measures, the Social Security Number Removal Initiative promises to affect provider operations.

HIT Happenings
Data abstraction and reporting can be burdensome, but there are tools available to make the process less strenuous.

News Briefs

Datebook

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


July 2017

features

Keep an Eye on Exclusion Monitoring
Learn the basics of exclusion and sanction monitoring, some of the challenges associated with implementing a monitoring program, and helpful hints on how to overcome potential hurdles.

Sticky Query Situations
As HIM professionals know well, nothing is straightforward in health care—not even asking a question.

How HIPAA Affects Research Efforts
Determining whether patient data are being used for quality improvement or research purposes can be dicey.

A Skills Evolution
These days, data reign in health care. As a result, HIM must shift its approach to education and workplace issues.

departments

Editor's Note

Transcription Trends
HIM experts weigh in on the recent cyberattack affecting Nuance.

HIM Challenges
By integrating data from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community into EHRs, clinicians will be better able to impact the care of this patient population.

Coding Corner
An industry expert reviews the intricacies of coding for vaccinations.

Inside Informatics
As interoperability concerns continue to mount and value-based care takes shape, nurse informaticists have taken a more prominent role at many organizations.

Chart Conundrums
Documenting in postacute care settings poses a unique set of challenges.

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


June 2017

features

Discover the Auditor Within
More organizations are looking to take control of the auditing process by developing auditors from their pool of coders.

NLP: An Evolving Dictation Opportunity
A formative study looks into natural language processing's role in solving the documentation quagmire.

Improve Security Through Information Governance
Take these seemingly disconnected elements and form a hand-in-hand partnership to better protect your organization.

External Cause Codes in the Courtroom
How a shooting incident was coded led attorneys to request a new trial in a high-profile case.

departments

Editor's Note

Evolving Education
No doubt, credentials and the credentialing process can be cumbersome. Are they worth the effort?

CFO Zone
A longitudinal EHR could be just the solution for health care organizations trying to stay solvent in a fee-for-value payment model.

Thought Leader Q&A
Security expert Saryu Nayyar shares her opinions on how health care organizations can thwart hackers, including why machine learning may be a game-changer.

Summer Showcase

HIT Happenings
These days, cyber threats take all shapes and forms, making it imperative for organizations to create a culture in which protecting data is paramount.

Industry Perspectives
An HIT expert believes analytics is holding back the industry.

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


May 2017

features

CDS Systems: Common Malfunctions, Practical Solutions
Astute health care organizations keeps tabs on the effectiveness of their clinical decision support software.

Don't Sleep on Z Codes
Organizations that capture social determinants are likely to enhance their population health and value-based care efforts.

Is Texting Physician Orders 2G2BT?
With The Joint Commission recently announcing that it was "rebanning" the practice, the future of text messaging protected health information remains up in the air.

Double Down Efforts to Thwart Duplicate Patient Records
Multiple records for the same patient pose a serious risk to quality of care and an organization's financial well-being.

departments

Editor's Note

HIT Happenings
The Common Security Framework can serve as a key tool for organizations looking to maintain strong security protocols.

Industry Perspectives
An industry veteran laments health care's failed attempts to meet its fundamental goals while also offering hope for the future.

Audit Alley
Do the math, and prebill audits look to be a winning proposition for organizations battling claim denials.

Transcription Trends
Back in the day, numerous medical transcription service organizations thrived. Today, a relatively small number have managed to stay afloat.

Coding and RCM Resource Guide

HIM Challenges
Earlier this year, the Office for Civil Rights levied a heavy fine against a Florida health care system for potential violations of the HIPAA privacy and security rules. What lessons can HIM professionals learn from the case?

News Brief

Datebook

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


April 2017

features

Digging Deep for Revenue
Using data analytics to increase reimbursement sounds enticing, but the process has several hurdles to clear.

Huddle Up
Study findings suggest daily staff gatherings can curtail EHR safety issues.

How to Avoid CDI Snares
Periodic check-ups can help keep documentation initiatives on track.

Is Speech Recognition Viable in the ED?
Industry experts weigh in on a small study that measured the incidence and types of errors occurring in emergency departments.

departments

Editor's Note

EHR Insider
To be effective, patient engagement initiatives must clear hurdles on several fronts.

Coding Corner
In response to the growing use of telehealth technology, the coding guidelines for these services have been tweaked.

Ask the Experts
Questions about lab orders, child status, and moderate sedation find answers.

Wireless World
When it comes to telehealth, some organizations have hit the jackpot while others remain risk averse.

News Briefs

Datebook

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


March 2017

features

The Evolution of Personalized Cancer Care
HIT tools that promote data gathering and analysis are helping researchers better understand how cancer therapy can become more targeted.

Transcription Shell Game
In an EHR-dominated world, how to measure the cost of producing quality documents can be obtuse.

The 21st Century Cures Act
Recently enacted into law, the legislation features components that may reshape HIT … in due time.

Discovery Mission
Is data science the next big job opportunity for HIM professionals?

departments

Editor's Note

HIM Happenings
The best information governance initiatives are enterprisewide efforts featuring heavy contributions from HIM.

mHealth Update
Studies indicate that patients eager to improve their health will be enthusiastic users of mobile technology.

HIPAA Challenges
Attacks on devices connected to the internet can be among the most damaging to a health care organization.

Chart Conundrums
Document with a purpose—colleagues and patients will be most grateful.

Letter to the Editor

CFO Zone
To survive in today's health care environment, providers must engage and educate patients on their financial responsibilities, including making payments more convenient.

News Briefs

Datebook

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


February 2017

features

Know Thy Docs
The consequences of provider duplicates can have far-reaching effects throughout a health care organization.

ROI Demands on the Rise
As patients gain greater access to their health records, the burden on HIM departments to maintain productivity levels intensifies.

Make Patient Privacy a Priority
Educating staff on the importance of safeguarding protected health information will create a culture of accountability and correctness.

Coding Contest Hints at ICD-10 Struggles
The contest results shed light on where coders are falling short in their quest to master ICD-10.

departments

Editor's Note
The Pains of Change

Industry Perspectives
A documentation expert spotlights the finer points of capturing patient data to garner an accurate account of mortality factors.

EHR Insider
In formulating the ideal EMR, developers should strive to meet the needs of physicians, payers, and patients.

HIT Happenings
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs have been hugely successful at the state level but there are shortcomings that must be addressed.

Winter Showcase

Inside Informatics
The next wave of health care IT ecosystems promises to furnish specialty practices with valuable data.

News Brief
Penn's Data Analytics Center features a tool it's dubbed the "Google" of EMRs.

Datebook

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.


January 2017

features

Qualifying and Quantifying Risk
Mortality scores can be deathly to a health care organization's revenue cycle and its reputation.

Hope or Hopeless?
Despite the fact EHRs have been around for a while, physician satisfaction with the technology remains dubious. Can the situation be remedied?

The Regulatory Challenges of Population Health Management
Organizations must be aware of their legal obligations when implementing such an initiative.

Yearning to Learn
Education initiatives are afoot to keep coders and HIM professionals a step ahead of the game.

departments

Editor's Note

Industry Perspectives
Increased coding operating expenses compelled by ICD-10 production uncertainties have produced an undeniable cost bubble that's about to burst.

Coding Corner
To ensure a fruitful relationship with remote coding staff—be it your own or a vendor's—follow these pointers.

Thought Leader Q&A
Rod Piechowski, senior director of health information systems at HIMSS North America, offers insight into the pressing issues facing HIT.

Chart Conundrums
Valentine's Day is not just for lovers; coders play a role, too.

Transcription and CDI Resource Guide

Transcription Trends
Maintaining HIPAA compliance in the transcription world can be a complex balancing act.

Datebook

By the Numbers
Get the lowdown on health care's facts and figures.