Many people do not realize there are differences between an electronic medical record (EMR), electronic health record (EHR), and a personal health record (PHR). I myself am guilty of often using the terms EHR and EMR interchangeably. There are, however, some defining differences that set these health and medical records apart.
Differences Between EMR, EHR, and PHR Read More »
In my years of bedside care I often had to go outside of the 30 minute window for timed medications for the benefit of the patient. Most of the times these times are arbitrary anyhow. If a medication is ordered once per day it doesn’t really matter what time of day the patient gets it. It should fit within their normal routine not within what the pharmacy schedules it. I never once received any sort of reprimand for my medication timing. I often had to request the scheduled times for medications be changed by the pharmacy, but many times I had to give the medication at a different time and documented the reason why.
Is Medication Timing More Important Than Good Patient Care? Read More »
Hospitals and healthcare providers every start shaking in their boots when they think of social media and healthcare. They freak out about the possibility of a HIPAA violation. But the fear that is struck in many of their hearts is really unneeded. There are 18 patient identifiers that are off limits when it comes to blogging and things of the like.
18 Patient Identifiers HIPAA Defines as Off Limits Read More »
While browsing the Goodwill tweeter @Potato_Chip found a box of Journal of American Medical Associations. A sweet find for an MD/PhD student right? Unfortunately, it turned out to be bittersweet though for the healthcare industry and patient advocates everywhere. In that very same box were discarded drugs, prescription pads, and ultra sound records. Many of these records, including ultrasounds, had patient identifiers or protected health information (PHI) intact.
Why HIPAA Laws Exist: Careless Disposal of PHI, RX pads, and Medications Read More »
Continuity of care documents (CCD) are a standard in electronic charting which ensures that relevant protected health information (PHI) can be shared with providers electronically and be received and used in a meaningful way.
Meaningful Use and the Continuity of Care Document Read More »
A very real conversation – when nurses chart their medical care, are they depending too much on charting and not enough on connecting with the people they care for? Nurses Chart Too Much & Don’t Think For Themselves Teresa Brown, R.N. wrote an article, featured in the New York Times, recently Caring for the Chart of the Patient, in which she discusses the very real challenge we face as nurses to document our care. She speaks about the mandates, and standards that we are forced to document on in order to satisfy one agency, insurance company, regulation, or another. What she mentions that
Shocking Truth – Nurses Depend Too Much On Charting Read More »
