Certification Connection, Winter 2011

Winter 2011 | HOME

Welcome to Certification Connection

Welcome to Certification Connection, created exclusively for HIM certified professionals. Each quarterly issue contains information on professional development, industry news, continuing education, announcements, upcoming events, and other tools for your success—all designed with you in mind.

If there is a certified professional whom you feel should be receiving this newsletter, please forward this to him or her to subscribe. Look for the next issue of Certification Connection in April.

Advantages of the CHPS Credential

ARRA has fast tracked the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs). In addition, privacy and security concerns have escalated. Ensuring patient information is protected and secure from any intrusion is a priority in healthcare. It is crucial for organizations to understand and implement the privacy and security controls needed to access health information while ensuring patient privacy.

According to Healthcare IT, healthcare experts have identified the top seven trends in health information privacy for 2011.

Health information exchanges, many of which will be launched by inexperienced and understaffed organization
There will be increased fines and regulatory action by State Attorneys General and regulatory agencies, will force more attention on security and privacy
Data breaches and associated costs will increase as penalties for information security negligence are acted on.
Hospital governing-boards will exert their power to manage data breach risks in order to increase accountability and fiduciary responsibility.
A significant "data spill" is inevitable and will bring national attention to the issue.
There will be heightened patient awareness and concern over the security of their private medical data.
The finalization of data breach notification rules by the Department of Health and Human Services could remove the controversial "harm threshold" provision that determines whether notification is required when an incident occurs. If removed, this will create a risk of over-notification and desensitization of patients.

HIPAA Privacy and Security Training

Editor's note: This update replaces the November 2003 practice brief "HIPAA Privacy and Security Training."

HIM professionals long have known and upheld the legal and ethical obligations of consumer privacy protection of health information. Advocacy of these principles within healthcare organizations has been based on professional accountability and external directives. However, this protection may be fragmented at best depending on an organization?s state of residence (state laws), program participation (such as Medicare, alcohol and drug abuse programs, and accreditation programs), and applicable federal laws.

The extent of workforce awareness and degree of privacy and security restrictions for patient health information have varied due to the delicate balance of privacy with the benefits of sharing and using information, job position influence or parameters, leadership interpretation of existing directives, and implementation cost. Although implicit, these requirements for upholding the privacy and security of health information have seldom required workforce training.

The HIPAA privacy and security rules require formal education and training of the workforce to ensure ongoing accountability for privacy and security of protected health information (PHI). HIPAA's privacy and security rules independently address training requirements. Like most standards, the training requirements are nonprescriptive, giving organizations flexibility in implementation. In February 2009, minor revisions to required training efforts were provided as a part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. This practice brief offers guidelines to covered entities to aid in implementation of the training standards required by HIPAA and HITECH.

AHIMA’s Online Practice Exams

Are you taking a certification exam? Are you considering registering for an exam but not sure if you are ready? AHIMA’s RHIT, RHIA, and CCA online practice exams are the perfect tool for you! The computer-based practice exams allow you to measure your skills and general readiness to sit for the test. The exams feature questions from domains of the exam blueprint, written by the same item writers who developed questions for the official exam. At the end, you will receive a score report that shows your greatest strengths, and where you need to bulk up your knowledge. Then, you can use that information to determine your next steps in the exam preparation process. Take it before you register or take it close to your exam date to gain the confidence that you need to succeed!
Other outstanding features:

Computer-based testing experience—Test at home, the office, or anywhere with an Internet connection.
Simulate the testing experience—avoid surprises on exam day!
Scores are broken down according to domains—discover your strongest and weakest points.

For more information, please visit here or call Customer Relations at (800) 335-5535.

Time to Recertify

Credentials are the foundation of the HIM profession. After all, you worked hard to earn your credential—isn’t maintaining it is just as important? If your two-year recertification cycle ends on March 31, CCHIIM’s Recertification policy requires you to report your CEUs by March 31, to remain ACTIVE. Report your CEUs online at the CEU Center. Visit www.ahima.org and log in to MyAHIMA. Select “CEU Center,” then choose “CEU Reporting Center” to report your CEUs. If you do not report your CEUs by March 31, your credential(s) will be designated INACTIVE beginning April 1. Don’t let that happen to you! Why not report today?

More information on your recertification requirements is found in the Recertification Guide on our Web site. To view the Guide, please visit AHIMA's Certification site and go to “Recertification.” For questions, please call AHIMA Customer Relations at (800) 335-5535 or submit a customer support request to us and we will assist you.

Pearson VUE Now the Exclusive Provider of AHIMA Certification Exams

As of January 4, all AHIMA certification exam candidates will be testing at Pearson VUE professional test centers. With more than 250 locations in the United States, Pearson VUE professional testing centers are an ideal testing environment with state-of-the-art computer based testing and distraction free workstations. For some seasoned professionals, change can be scary, but this change is definitely for the better.

For 2011, AHIMA has also updated its candidate policies and procedures to be more customer-friendly. One important change is that Pearson VUE sends Authorization to Test (ATT) letters via email to exam candidates who provide a valid email address. With this faster delivery system your ATT is practically at your fingertips, allowing you to schedule your exam sooner and have the best selection of possible appointment times. Candidates who do not provide a valid email address will still receive a paper letter via U.S. mail.

Featured Publication

Privacy

Privacy: The Impact of ARRA, HITECH, and other Policy Initiatives

by Jill Callahan Dennis, JD, RHIA

In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was signed into law. ARRA’s language creates some interesting new questions for those working in the health information privacy arena—this book explores those questions. Use this book as a guide while implementing the health information privacy and security provisions of ARRA. Topics include key provisions of the legislation, operational challenges and possible implementation strategies, and an overview of some of the other privacy- and security-related policy efforts now underway.

This book will be useful to a range of users—both those experienced with health information privacy issues, and those just beginning to work with ARRA’s HITECH provisions.

Key Features:

Overview of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
Key provisions impacting HIPAA Privacy Rules
Breach notification provisions
Operational challenges
Implementation strategies
Business associate agreements
Unresolved questions and conflicts
Extensive listing of Web resources

Order Privacy: The Impact of ARRA, HITECH, and other Policy Initiatives here.

AHIMA 233 N. MICHIGAN AVE., 21ST FL., CHICAGO, IL 60601

Views expressed in articles contributed to AHIMA’s e-newsletters are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of the Association or staff. Articles are not to be construed as endorsing any particular product or service. Products, services, and educational institutions advertised in the AHIMA’s e-newsletters do not imply endorsement by the Association.

The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (www.cahiim.org) accredits degree-granting programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree levels.

Events

January 25
Breach Notification: Best Practices for Identification, Response, Investigation and Reporting
Audio Seminar

February 10
RAC Current Events: Medical Necessity,72-Hour Rule and Other Program Initiatives
Audio Seminar

March 7
The Latest on ARRA-HITECH
Virtual Meeting

March 8
Transitioning to the EHR: What It Means for HIM Re-engineering
Audio Seminar

March 22
ICD-10-CM: Annual Updates on Codes and Coding Guidelines
Audio Seminar

March 25
ICD-10-PCS: Annual Updates on Codes and Coding Guidelines
Audio Seminar

March 28-29
Team Talks - Hill Day
Washington, D.C.

March 31
AHIMA Winter Team Talks - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV

View a complete listing of all AHIMA events and audio seminars/webinars

Upcoming AHIMA Convention & Exhibit Dates and Locations

October 1–6, 2011
Salt Lake City, UT

The Communities of Practice is a benefit of AHIMA membership. If you are already a member, click here. For information on becoming a member, click here.