Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act abbreviated as HIPPA, was enacted in 1996 to promote efficiency and improve effectiveness in the entire systems of healthcare (Califf & Muhlbaier, 2003).
The law simplifies provisions in the administrative processes in adopting national standards in transactions regarding electronic health care between human services and health department. The adoption also includes code sets, security and unique identifiers in health care systems (Califf & Muhlbaier, 2003).
Electronic medical record refers to use of an environment made of clinical data, support for clinical decisions, regulated use of medical vocabulary, entry of data in an orderly way that is computerized and application of documentation regarding clinical services and pharmacy. The environment helps in electronic recording of medical services for all patients by health practitioners in management and monitoring of services in a health care organization (Califf & Muhlbaier, 2003).
Electronic Health Records is a subset of electronic medical records used in delivery of care in health organizations. The patient owns this record and can have access and input for events across the health care system in a certain region. Establishment of this record is based on the evolution of various electronic records to a certain level where information can be exchanged between stakeholders in a region or a community.
This service exists in limited environments in the United States of America due to lack of application architectures that can easily adopt transactions standards for clinical information (Califf & Muhlbaier, 2003).
Personal health record refers to a collection of information that is health-related, which is documented and kept by the person it pertains. Although the information in this record varies from one individual to another and for different systems, it generally include information regarding visits one has made to medical professionals, health history in a family such as allergies, records of immunizations and any other medication a person may have received in past (Gallagher, 2013).
Computerized provider order entry system is direct recording of electronic orders in a healthcare by health professionals who are licensed or have privileges to enter such orders in the system such as physicians, nurse practitioners and clinical staff. Such orders include medications, orders in nursing, requests for consultations, requests for radiology, equipment and diets.
Orders on medication and test in the lab are the most common services in this recording for the safe monitoring required in medication (Califf & Muhlbaier, 2003).
Unique patient identifier is a set of values to help in identification of patients within a healthcare or across the nation in a unique way. It should be unique to give information of the patient, means of communication, past health information and studies based on population. These characteristics can be used to recognize that individual and thus proof his or her identity (Gallagher, 2013).
Protected health information refers to patient’s information regarding medical services, which is filed and protected from access to unauthorized persons or organizations. Any information the patient may have given in any form for a specific need is also included. These information can however be released if the patient request (Gallagher, 2013).
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services refer to agency in the US health service department that administers health programs in the federal state. These programs include insurance programs for children’s health and ways of improving and amending clinical laboratories as well as accountability act (Gallagher, 2013).
Covered entities are health plans and providers of healthcare who deliver health information electronically according to the set standards. Such transactions regard billings and insurance coverage for hospitals and academic centers for medical services. These can be persons or institution but must follow the set rules (Gallagher, 2013).
Health information exchange refers to transmission of data on healthcare from one facility to another, between health organizations as well as agencies in government with compliance of national standards. It is a main component of information technology in healthcare services developed by the United States of America to improve information delivery in healthcare systems. Transfer of information through this facility must be secure and accessible (Gallagher, 2013).
References
Califf, R., & Muhlbaier, R. (2003). Health insurance portability and accountability act. Dallas: American Heart Association. Inc.
Gallagher, P. (2013). Glossary of selected health information technology. Pinellas: Pinellas County Health Dept.