NURS-6051N Week 11: Assignment POLICY/REGULATION FACT SHEET EXAMPLE

The Policy

The healthcare policy chosen is the Final Rule from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), a recent regulation in the United States established in 2021. This rule aims to encourage the compatibility of electronic health information, ensure patients can get to their health data, and decrease obstacles to securely exchanging health information for patients and healthcare providers (Moore & Clark, 2021). The policy has various implications for how informatics is used in healthcare, establishes standards and guidelines for exchanging health information, and creates a certification program for developers of health information technology.

Effect on Putting Systems into Action

The policy has many effects on implementing systems. It demands healthcare organizations to take on certified electronic health information systems and other measures that support data accuracy to take part in federal incentive plans. The certification process guarantees that the systems can securely and effectively exchange information with other healthcare organizations (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022). Another impact is that this policy will probably update obsolete electronic health information systems and promote the adoption of new and inventive systems, which will securely grant patients and providers simple access to health information. By implementing these measures, the implementation of easy access to patient information will lead to enhanced security of electronic health records systems and other platforms that patients and healthcare providers use to get to patients’ health information.

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Effect on Medical Care, Interaction Between Patients/Providers, and How Work Is Done

With the introduction of interoperable electronic health information systems, patients will have access to their health information from different providers. Importantly, having an interoperable EHR system is a key objective of healthcare organizations, which aligns with the ONC’s goals (Shull, 2019). According to Ratwani et al. (2019), the advantage of this is that it will allow for better coordination of care. Additionally, patients will be able to share health information with providers quickly and effectively, reducing the need for repetitive tests and enhancing the accuracy of diagnoses. Healthcare providers must also implement and stick to policies that protect patients’ data and use the data accessed effectively to make decisions that enhance patient care. Moreover, the policy will boost quality, efficiency, safety, and the effectiveness of clinical care.

Rules and Steps

There will be impacts on the rules and steps in place within healthcare organizations. According to Ratwani et al. (2019), the policy will require healthcare organizations to establish specific rules and steps to ensure the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI). My healthcare organization has rules and steps that guarantee the safety of all PHI. To prevent a data breach, all healthcare staff at my organization receive mandatory training on accessing and safeguarding health information.

There are also rules that all healthcare providers must follow when accessing PHI. Additionally, patients can only access their health information through a secure system that must be verified. Furthermore, my healthcare organization has implemented these essential rules: a privacy and security rule, a data access rule, and a breach response plan. According to Moore and Clark (2021), a privacy and security rule outlines how PHI will be gathered, stored, used, and safeguarded to comply with the requirements of the ONC Final Rule. Conversely, a data access rule delineates who is authorized to access PHI and the steps needed to access the data (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, n.d.). Lastly, a breach response plan outlines the procedures and protocols the organization must follow during a data breach.

The Policy

The healthcare policy selected is the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) Final Rule, a current policy in the United States established in 2021. This policy aims to promote the interoperability of electronic health information, ensure patients have access to their health information, and reduce barriers to the secure exchange of health information for patients and healthcare providers (Moore & Clark, 2021). The policy has some implications on how informatics is used in healthcare, sets standards and guidelines for health information exchange, and establishes a certification program for health information technology developers.

Impact on System Implementation

The policy has several implications for the system implementation. It requires healthcare organizations to adopt certified electronic health information systems and other interventions that promote data integrity to participate in federal incentive programs. The certification process ensures that the systems can exchange information securely and effectively with other healthcare organizations (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022). Another implication is that this policy will likely upgrade outdated electronic health information systems and promote the implementation of new and innovative systems, which will securely grant patients and providers easy access to health information. By implementing these interventions, the system implementation of easy access to patient information will lead to enhanced security of electronic health records systems and other platforms that patients and healthcare providers use to access patients’ health information.

Impact on Clinical Care, Patient/Provider Interactions, and Workflow

With the implementation of interoperable electronic health information systems, patients will have access to their health information from various providers. Notably, implementing an interoperable EHR system is a crucial goal of healthcare organizations, which is what the ONC aims for (Shull, 2019). According to Ratwani et al. (2019), the benefit of this is that it will allow for better coordination of care. Also, patients will quickly and effectively share health information with providers lessening the need for duplicative tests and increasing the accuracy of diagnoses. Healthcare providers must also implement and adhere to policies that safeguard patients’ data and use the data accessed effectively to make decisions that improve patient care. Furthermore, the policy will improve quality, efficiency, safety, and more effective clinical care.

Policies and Procedures

There will be impacts on policies and procedures in place within healthcare organizations. According to Ratwani et al. (2019), the policy will require healthcare organizations to put specific policies and procedures in place to ensure the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI). My healthcare organization has policies and procedures that ensure the safety of all PHI. To avoid a data breach, all healthcare staff at my organization receive mandatory education on accessing and protecting health information. There are also guidelines that all healthcare providers must follow when accessing PHI. Also, patients can only access their health information through a secured system that must be authenticated. In addition, my healthcare organization has implemented these essential policies: a privacy and security policy, a data access policy, and a breach response plan. According to Moore and Clark (2021), a privacy and security policy outlines how PHI will be collected, stored, used, and protected to comply with the ONC Final Rule requirements. On the other hand, a data access policy outlines who is authorized to access PHI and the steps required to access the data (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, n.d.). Finally, a breach response plan outlines the procedures and protocols the organization must follow during a data breach.

References

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). MACRA. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality-initiatives-patient-assessment-instruments/value-based-programs/macra-mips-and-apms/macra-mips-and-apms.html

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K.G. (2022). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Moore, B., & Clark, A. (2021). NVLAP health information technology testing. https://doi.org/10.6028/nist.hb.150-31-2021

Ratwani, R. M., Reider, J., & Singh, H. (2019). A decade of health information technology usability challenges and the path forward. JAMA, 321(8), 743-744. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.0161

Shull, J. G. (2019). Digital health and the state of interoperable electronic health records. JMIR Medical Informatics, 7(4), e12712. https://doi.org/10.2196/12712 NURS-6051N Week 11: Assignment POLICY/REGULATION FACT SHEET EXAMPLE