Healthcare IT
Content
Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology
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Introduction to Healthcare IT
Overview
This chapter introduces the field of healthcare information technology. It begins by defining healthcare information technology, noting some of its benefits, and reviewing CompTIA’s response to the shortage of trained healthcare information technology professionals. Then the chapter examines various regulatory agencies and regulations applicable to healthcare information technology, and finishes with an overview of legal documents that healthcare information technology professionals encounter on a regular basis.
Objectives
Define healthcare information technology Recognize some of the benefits of healthcare IT Describe the CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician Certificate List major healthcare regulators Summarize the major healthcare regulations Describe typical healthcare legal practices
What Is Healthcare Information Technology?
1. Begin the discussion by pointing out that healthcare information technology is the application of information technology to the healthcare industry. 2. Provide definitions for the terms information technology (IT), hardware, software, and healthcare information technology (HIT).
Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology
1-2
Benefits of HIT
1. Note that according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), advances in technology can be attributed to about half of healthcare spending increases. 2. Introduce the term Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). 3. Briefly discuss the potential benefits of an electronic medical record (EMR) for patient care.
The CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician Certificate
1. Discuss the COMPTIA’a four-pronged approach to promoting IT. 2. Note that recently, CompTIA added a new certification program directly addressing HIT industry needs. The program prepares students for jobs deemed critical by the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. These include implementation support specialists and technical and software support staff.
Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology
1-3
Regulatory Compliance: Regulators
1. Introduce the term regulator. 2. Point out that in the United States, regulations at the federal, state, and local level make healthcare one of the most heavily regulated industries. In addition, there are literally hundreds of private organizations with their own regulatory standards. Use Table 1-1 to aid the discussion. Department of Health and Human Services 1. The mission of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is fivefold: to help provide citizens with access to high-quality health care, to help people find jobs and child care, to keep food safe, to manage infectious diseases, and to extend the practice of diagnosis and treatment. 2. Briefly introduce the 12 operating divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 3. In addition to the 12 HHS operating divisions, there are also 17 staff divisions. Note that the staff division of primary importance to HIT is the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology
1-4
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Information Technology 1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the Medicare program, the federal portion of the Medicaid program, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Note that Medicare is health insurance for people over the age of 65, or under the age of 65 if they have certain disabilities. 2. Students should be aware that Medicare is divided into three main parts: Part A, Part B, and Prescription Drug Coverage. 3. Note that Medicaid is a program for low-income people whose resources do not cover certain medical expenses. Although jointly funded by the federal government and the states, it is managed by the states. 4. Introduce the term electronic health record (EHR) EHR an electronic medical record (EMR), an electronic patient record (EPR), and a personal health record (PHR). The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology 1. Remind students that the responsibility of the ONC is to coordinate the use of advanced HIT practices at the national level. 2. Note that one of the major roles ONC plays in HIT is that of certifying EHR systems and providers. The purpose of this process is to help ensure that HIT systems are secure, able to interoperate, and can provide their purported functionalities. The National Institute of Standards and Technology 1. Introduce the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a department of the United States Department of Commerce that sets standards for EHRs under the HITECH Act. NIST is promoted as the country’s first federally sponsored physical science research laboratory. 2. Briefly discuss NISTS’s role in HIT. Use Table 1-2 to aid the discussion.
1-1
Introduction to Healthcare IT
Overview
This chapter introduces the field of healthcare information technology. It begins by defining healthcare information technology, noting some of its benefits, and reviewing CompTIA’s response to the shortage of trained healthcare information technology professionals. Then the chapter examines various regulatory agencies and regulations applicable to healthcare information technology, and finishes with an overview of legal documents that healthcare information technology professionals encounter on a regular basis.
Objectives
Define healthcare information technology Recognize some of the benefits of healthcare IT Describe the CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician Certificate List major healthcare regulators Summarize the major healthcare regulations Describe typical healthcare legal practices
What Is Healthcare Information Technology?
1. Begin the discussion by pointing out that healthcare information technology is the application of information technology to the healthcare industry. 2. Provide definitions for the terms information technology (IT), hardware, software, and healthcare information technology (HIT).
Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology
1-2
Benefits of HIT
1. Note that according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), advances in technology can be attributed to about half of healthcare spending increases. 2. Introduce the term Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). 3. Briefly discuss the potential benefits of an electronic medical record (EMR) for patient care.
The CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician Certificate
1. Discuss the COMPTIA’a four-pronged approach to promoting IT. 2. Note that recently, CompTIA added a new certification program directly addressing HIT industry needs. The program prepares students for jobs deemed critical by the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. These include implementation support specialists and technical and software support staff.
Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology
1-3
Regulatory Compliance: Regulators
1. Introduce the term regulator. 2. Point out that in the United States, regulations at the federal, state, and local level make healthcare one of the most heavily regulated industries. In addition, there are literally hundreds of private organizations with their own regulatory standards. Use Table 1-1 to aid the discussion. Department of Health and Human Services 1. The mission of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is fivefold: to help provide citizens with access to high-quality health care, to help people find jobs and child care, to keep food safe, to manage infectious diseases, and to extend the practice of diagnosis and treatment. 2. Briefly introduce the 12 operating divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 3. In addition to the 12 HHS operating divisions, there are also 17 staff divisions. Note that the staff division of primary importance to HIT is the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
Introduction to Healthcare Information Technology
1-4
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Information Technology 1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the Medicare program, the federal portion of the Medicaid program, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Note that Medicare is health insurance for people over the age of 65, or under the age of 65 if they have certain disabilities. 2. Students should be aware that Medicare is divided into three main parts: Part A, Part B, and Prescription Drug Coverage. 3. Note that Medicaid is a program for low-income people whose resources do not cover certain medical expenses. Although jointly funded by the federal government and the states, it is managed by the states. 4. Introduce the term electronic health record (EHR) EHR an electronic medical record (EMR), an electronic patient record (EPR), and a personal health record (PHR). The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology 1. Remind students that the responsibility of the ONC is to coordinate the use of advanced HIT practices at the national level. 2. Note that one of the major roles ONC plays in HIT is that of certifying EHR systems and providers. The purpose of this process is to help ensure that HIT systems are secure, able to interoperate, and can provide their purported functionalities. The National Institute of Standards and Technology 1. Introduce the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a department of the United States Department of Commerce that sets standards for EHRs under the HITECH Act. NIST is promoted as the country’s first federally sponsored physical science research laboratory. 2. Briefly discuss NISTS’s role in HIT. Use Table 1-2 to aid the discussion.
