BHA 3002 HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT- Electronic Health Record (EHR) & Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

■ One great improvement in healthcare technology, is the switch to the EHR. The EHR is a software platform that is used to create and maintain patient charts. This is a computerized record system that is used to maintain healthcare information and associated processes.

■ Another form of software that is used by hospitals is the Electronic Medical Record EMR. This software is used to create and maintain patient charts via a computerized record of medical information.

■ The big difference between the EHR and EMR is that the EMR will be utilized more in a hospital setting due to the rarity of providing preventive care such as physicals and vaccines. The HER will be utilized more in physician offices, that way one's health care provider can document and provide both preventive and medical care.

Confidentiality & Security of EHR/EMR

■ Included in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a section that governs the protection of patient's confidential health information. This section is known as the Security Rule, and this rule, governs three specific standards for the security of electronic information.

Administrative safeguards are policies and procedures that are developed and maintained with the intent to protect a patient's information.

Physical safeguards is that to ensure that everything is done possible to protect the EHR/EMR. This is normally done to protect information from physical threats such as fire, flood, computer failures, electrical surges, or other disturbances. Another physical safeguard that is normally in place is policy set by the facility or administrator that the data will be backed up regularly and that those files are stored off-site by the use of cloud computing.

Technical Safeguards is the protection that is encrypted and controlled via means of passwords, firewalls, virus protection, etc. Only those that have the legal right to view the information will be able to access the information. This requirement is enforced by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH).

Bar Codes & Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems

■ Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is wireless technology that is used to track specific items, such as medications, patient charts, and patient identification.

■ For years bar codes have been used to keep track of supplies, and pharmaceuticals in the healthcare setting. This has now been expanded to the patient side, to the bar code on the patient's arm band to link to the patient's chart to then link to medications to ensure that the correct medication and dosage is being administered.

■ This technology is now being used to track physicians, nurses and patients. This has become really helpful in tracking those with mental disabilities such as Alzheimer's who get lost. This technology is also being used to monitor patients in there own homes via Wi-Fi and automatically connecting this information to their patient charts. RFID is being used also in ID badges of staff members to make sure that only authorized personnel are being allowed in specific areas of a healthcare facility.

Telehealth

Telehealth - Any remote telecommunication between health care providers and patients or other providers for the purpose of managing the patient's health care.

Currently on the market there is a device that is approved by the FDA called the iBGStar Diabetes Manager which is an i-Phone enabled blood glucose meter. This device allows patients to not only test their blood sugar levels, but also allows them to send their results without having to visit their health care provider. As long as the results are within normal range, this keeps the patients out of the doctor's office.

WORKPLACE SAFETY &

VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Implementing costs

Safety & Health Programs

“A safe workplace is a sound business”

■ Since this program was released 30 years ago, the sole purpose was to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and death, along with the suffering and financial hardship that is inquired by the workers, families and employers.

■ Safety & Health Programs:

Prevent workplace injuries & illnesses

Improve compliance with laws & regulations

Reduce cost by including significant reductions in worker’s compensation premiums

Engage workers

Enhance social responsibility goals

Increase productivity & enhance overall business operations

Workplace Violence Toolkit Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)

■ Every year, work place violence accounts for 900 deaths and 1.7 million non-fatal assaults in the United States. Created by the Emergency Nurses Association in effort by administrators to manage and mitigate violent behaviors to protect staff and patients.

Workplace Violence

■ 35-80% of hospital staff have been assaulted in the workplace at least once during there career.

– Reasons why nurses are assaulted in the workplace:

■ Low staffing levels

■ Lack of violence prevention programs

■ Inadequate security

■ Patient’s who view hospitals as sources for money and pharmaceuticals

■ Presence of guns & other weapons among hospital patients & visitors

Under reporting of Violence

■ Unfortunately workplace violence statistics are inaccurate due to it is often under reported

Employees often don’t know how to report or there is a lack of reporting policies

Employees have the perception that assaults are apart of the job

Employees don’t believe that reporting the incident will benefit or correct the situation

Employees may feel that the results of assaults may be from the result of poor performance