For more information, contact:
Theresa Grant
American Health Information Management Association
(312) 233-1100
theresa.grant@ahima.org
Management Practices for the Release of Information
CHICAGO, November 12, 2008—The HIPAA privacy rule contains specific requirements to ensure patient confidentiality. However, an organization’s overall management of health information processes defines the foundation for accurate, secure and compliant information sharing. These processes and key management principles within HIM for the exchange of information in areas of quality control, productivity management, turnaround times and backlog management are discussed in a practice brief in the November/December issue of the Journal of AHIMA.
The HIPAA rule is meant to balance the need for the timely and informed delivery of healthcare services while protecting the patient. However, confusion occurs when state laws are mixed into the process because of the non-existence of a standard, uniform state privacy law. This article explains that while some states require patient authorization to be obtained prior to release, some states do not. This variation in law requires that healthcare organizations develop, implement, and maintain thorough policies, processes, and procedures around release of information (ROI).
ROI processes are often full of questions and require some evaluation before the request can be fulfilled. For HIM professionals, the biggest challenge comes in finding the balance between guarding privacy, maintaining legal compliance, and facilitating quality patient care through information sharing. Management Practices for the Release of Information lists eight tasks that can ensure acceptable and compliant performance on ROI:
- Comprehensive facility-specific procedures that are documented, current and easily accessible to staff
- Access to appropriate state and federal regulation references
- Training programs for new staff members
- Education programs for current staff members
- Regular review of work performed to ensure standards are met
- Compilation of performance statistics
- Routine feedback to individual ROI staff regarding performance criteria
- Solicitation of feedback from requestors
Read the complete article in the November/December issue of the Journal of AHIMA or online at journal.ahima.org.
About AHIMA
The American Health Information Management Association is America’s leading professional society whose mission is to “improve healthcare by advancing best practices and standards for health information management and [serve as] the trusted source for education, research and professional credentialing.” AHIMA represents more than 53,000 specially educated HIM professionals who serve healthcare and the public by managing, analyzing and utilizing data vital for health system management. www.ahima.org