Write an article (35 pages) for submission to the Journal of AHIMA on EHR standards. Incorporate information on data standard integration strategies and the importance of data modeling and data dictionaries.
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Introduction
What would happen if you were visiting another state or country and suddenly became ill? What if you had an accident, became unresponsive, and could not share your medical history with those treating you? How would the care provider obtain your medical history, such as allergies, current medications, or chronic illnesses?
One of the EHR’s goals is interoperability, which allows various EHR systems to communicate with each other. With interoperability, no matter where you are, care providers will be able to obtain essential medical information about you. To make this a reality, standards must be in place. Standards are the rules, or guidelines, that direct the EHR’s structure and specify the terminology used in the EHR system.
With interoperability comes one of the biggest concerns with the EHR: privacy and security. Privacy is an individual’s right to control the use of and access to his/her protected health information. Security refers to the measures used to ensure privacy. Security also ensures confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
In this third course assessment, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and skills related to EHR standards. As an HIM manager at Vila Health, one of the requirements of your yearly evaluation is to submit an article for publication to the Journal of AHIMA. This year you have selected EHR standards as your topic. In addition, you will be including in your article information on data standard integration strategies and the importance of data modeling and data dictionaries.
Demonstration of Proficiency
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
Competency 3: Evaluate the role that data and technology standards play in implementation and maintenance of an electronic health record (EHR) system.
Identify the standards that govern EHR systems and the organizations that set them.
Distinguish among types of data, data formats, and data reporting requirements.
Describe the purpose of data modeling and data dictionaries.
Determine integration standards among applications.
Competency 5: Communicate in a professional manner to support health data management.
Create a clearly written, well-organized, compelling, professional article that is generally free of errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references.
Preparation
EHR Go
Complete these specific EHR Go activities before beginning Assessment 3. You will be incorporating information from these activities into your assessment:
Many different types of EHR standards exist, including those related to technology, documentation, and content, as well as privacy and security. This activity focuses on documentationstandards in an EHR.
EHR Go: EHR Documentation Standards.
This activity is an introduction to privacy, security, and confidentiality in the EHR.
EHR Go: Introduction to Privacy and Security.
Case Studies
For Assessment 3, select a different case study than you selected for Assessments 1 and 2. This time, choose a case study that allows you to focus on standards for EHR data and technology along with the organizations that set these standards. Analyze your selected case study and then incorporate appropriate elements into your assessment. Remember: Choosing a case study that allows you to meet the assessment’s scoring guide criteria is your responsibility.
HealthIT.gov. (n.d.). Case studies. https://www.healthit.gov/case-studies
At this link, you will find EHR implementation stories from providers around the country. In addition, case studies from specific categories, such as meaningful use and health information exchange, are provided. On the left-hand side of the screen, be sure to click the + sign to open the list of case studies.
Michigan State Medical Society. (n.d.). EMR in physician practices: A summary of 14 case studies to guide Michigan physicians [PDF]. https://www.msms.org/Portals/0/Documents/MSMS/Reso…
These studies fill a gap in research by providing physicians with examples of adoption by practices of various sizes and settings.
Capella Library Databases.
This link takes you to a list of all Capella library databases. Within this list, PubMed Central is a good resource for case studies. Search electronic health records to get started.
Independent Research
If you are less familiar with EHRs, you may wish to conduct additional independent research. The suggested resources provide a good starting point. You may also wish to consult the Health Care Administration Undergraduate Library Research Guide for research tips and help in identifying current, scholarly, and/or authoritative sources.
Instructions
As a HIM manager at Vila Health, one requirement for your yearly evaluation is to submit an article to the Journal of AHIMA for publication. This year, you have decided to write your article on EHR standards. From past experience, you have learned that the editors of the Journal like writers to incorporate a case study and examples from their professional experience into their articles. If you are not currently working in the HIM field, you will need to rely on your experience with the EHR Go activities you have completed so far in this course.
As you write your article for the Journal of AHIMA, consider all of the following:
The case study you selected for this assessment.
Your experience using an EHR in the workplace and/or in this course.
The independent research you conducted on EHRs and the standards that govern them.
Be sure to address all of the following headings and the questions underneath each heading in your article:
Introduction (12 paragraphs)
How will you capture your reader’s attention so that they read your entire article to the end?
Consider a compelling scenario or problem, such as the one that appears in the introduction to this assessment. Other possibilities include startling statistics, a thought-provoking question, et cetera. Use your imagination.
Be sure to tailor the title of your introduction for your specific article.
EHR Standards and Standards Development Organizations (1/2 page)
What are the some of the standards governing EHR systems?
Which standards development organizations (SDOs) set these standards?
What is one specific vocabulary standard addressed in the case study you selected?
What issues, if any, arose related to implementing the vocabulary standard you selected?
What improvements would you recommend to resolve any issues that arose?
What is one specific classification standard addressed in the case study you selected?
What issues, if any, arose related to implementing the classification standard you selected?
What improvements would you recommend to resolve any issues that arose?
Types of Data versus Data Formats versus Data Reporting Requirements (1/2 page)
How would you define types of data, data formats, and data requirements?
How are these similar to each other?
How are they different?
Note: Be sure to use examples from your case study, your experience in the workplace or in this course, or from your research to illustrate these similarities and differences.
Purpose of Data Modeling and Data Dictionaries (11 1/2 pages)
What is the purpose of data modeling and data dictionaries?
How did the case study you selected address: data architecture, databases, data warehouses, data modeling, data dictionaries, and metadata?
Why are data usability and quality important?
What are the consequences of data that can’t be used and poor quality data?
Include examples from your case study, your experience in the workplace or in this course, and from your independent research.
Why are consistency and design important?
What are the ramifications of inconsistency and poor design?
As before, use examples to illustrate your points.
Data Standard Integration Strategies Among Applications (1/21 page)
Which data standard integration strategies were employed in your case study, in your experience in this course or in the workplace, or in your independent research?
Which strategies were most effective? Why were they effective?
Which strategies were not as effective? Why weren’t they effective?
What are the two or three most effective data standard integration strategies you would recommend based on your experience and research?
Conclusion (One paragraph)
What are the two or three most important takeaways that you want readers to have as a result of reading your article?
What do health care organizations need to be thinking about in the future in terms of EHR data standards?
Additional Requirements
Length: 35 double-spaced pages.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
APA: Provide citations and references in current APA style and format. This guide is a good refresher on APA style and formatting guidelines: Evidence and APA.
Writing: Create a clear, well-organized, compelling, professional article that is generally free of errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Scoring Guide
EHR Standards Scoring Guide
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED
Identify the standards that govern EHR systems and the organizations that set them. Does not Identify the standards that govern EHR systems and the organizations that set them. Attempts to Identify the standards that govern EHR systems and the organizations that set them; however, omissions and/or errors exist. Identifies the standards that govern EHR systems and the organizations that set them. Identifies the standards that govern EHR systems and the organizations that set them. Includes multiple examples and references to current, scholarly and/or authoritative sources.
Distinguish among types of data, data formats, and data reporting requirements. Does not distinguish among types of data, data formats, and data reporting requirements. Attempts to distinguish among types of data, data formats, and data reporting requirements; however, omissions and/or errors exist. Distinguishes among types of data, data formats, and data reporting requirements. Distinguishes among types of data, data formats, and data reporting requirements. Includes multiple examples and references to current, scholarly and/or authoritative sources.
Describe the purpose of data modeling and data dictionaries. Does not describe the purpose of data modeling and data dictionaries. Describes the purpose of data modeling and data dictionaries in minimal depth and detail. Describes the purpose of data modeling and data dictionaries. Describes the purpose of data modeling and data dictionaries. Includes multiple examples and references to current, scholarly and/or authoritative sources.
Determine integration standards among applications. Does not determine integration standards among applications. Attempts to determine integration standards among applications; however, omissions and/or errors exist. Determines integration standards among applications. Determines integration standards among applications. Defines criteria for choosing standards.
Create a clearly written, well organized, compelling, professional article that is generally free of errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Does not create a clearly written, well organized, compelling, professional article that is generally free of errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Attempts to create a clearly written, well organized, compelling, professional article that is generally free of errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. However, lapses, omissions, and/or errors exist. Creates a clearly written, well organized, compelling, professional article that is generally free of errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Creates a clearly written, well organized, compelling, professional, error-free article that is generally free of errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Article contains multiple examples and references to current, scholarly and/or authoritative sources.
Follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references. Does not follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references. Attempts to follow APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references; however, omissions and/or errors exist. Follows APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references. Follows APA style and formatting guidelines for citations and references without errors or omissions.
