They do not circulate throughout the facility, ensuring a greater chance of misplacement or security compromises. But even in this instance, errors can occur -- timely record-updating and writing times and dates next to new information when it is added to a patient's file is essential, to ensure that there is not a discrepancy between the patient's data kept in two different locations. In fact, one worker at one of the larger facilities expressed dissatisfaction with the paper back-up method: "Keeping everything together either electronically or on paper not both. Causes too much confusion," she or he wrote. Unfortunately, in large and small facilities, even with security procedures such as password protections for digital data, safety concerns remain. Concerns about compromised patient safety were often expressed by workers and the danger of legal violations for the facility because of lack of compliance with government regulations even if no malfeasance was intended. There were also concerns about misinformation about drugs and patient drug interactions because of incomplete patient data. If data is lost, patient safety can be compromised. Having to recreate a lost file can be difficult when there is insufficient or contradictory back-up information. Also, some facilities do not keep files on former patients, which can be a problem if a patient contracts a condition which requires him or her to find out past information...
Most larger facilities have standardized operating procedures about when medical records are destroyed, such as doing so after every ten or five years, notifying a patient when this takes place, and giving a patient the option to obtain the records if they show an identifying card, but others do not, or do not inform patients of these procedures.
Concomitantly, the patient should also be kept informed of such actions, as it directly affects his or her confidentiality status. The physician should then advise the patient regarding the necessary actions or allowance to be made for the destruction of the records. 6. As mentioned above, it is absolutely vital to identify individuals and organizations with access to the databases containing his or her medical records. The reason for this
Future Challenges Facing U.S. Healthcare: One of the major issues that the United States has encountered in the recent years is the country's healthcare system especially in the wake of the need for healthcare reforms. However, even with the ratification of healthcare reform policies by the Obama administrations, the country's healthcare system is likely to continue facing some challenges in the future. Current Healthcare Problems in the U.S.: The current healthcare system in
Health Care IT Health Care Information Technology The days of paper-based records in health care are fading. It is widely believed that the broad adoption of clinical applications such as computerized physician order entry (CPOE) can lead to major health care savings, help eliminate medical errors, and improve healthcare outcomes for patients (Lynn, 2011). Because of such benefits, the Obama administration included automated adoptions in health care as a part of its
"Studies of the relationship between managed care penetration in the health care market and expenditures for Medicare fee-for-service enrollees have demonstrated the existence of these types of spill over effects" (Bundorf et al., 2004). Managed care organizations generate these types of spillover effects by increasing competition in the health care market, altering the arrangement of the health care delivery system, and altering physician practice patterns. Studies have found that higher
Controlling Benefit Costs One of the most serious dilemmas facing organizations today is how to maximize profits in an extremely competitive global environment. Of course, organizations need employees, and there is a cycle that has been growing over the past three decades or so in which employees and other stakeholders are expecting greater benefit packages in order to stay with their employer. The reality of 21st century organizational environments is so
Healthcare ProposalAbstractSocioeconomic status and high prices of healthcare insurance premiums are some of the critical factors that define the way US citizens are covered. However, a large subgroup of the population remains uninsured, particularly those who live in remote or rural areas or do not fall under the age categories of Medicare or Medicaid programs. This paper aims to put forth a new legislation proposal with changes in the terms
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now