PART B: SECURITY OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS AND PERSONAL HEALTH RECORDS
During Weeks 6 through 10, students will learn about a unique language for coding health services and procedures to streamline reporting, increase accuracy and efficiency; security of electronic records and personal health records; and software systems used in physician offices during our synchronous and asynchronous classes. Read through the websites and view the videos that are posted below as they will help you learn more about these fields and provide valuable information for your (1) two computer lab exercises and (2) written report.
Week 6 – Understanding CPT Taxonomy
Student Learning Outcome(s) for this Session: Upon completion of this session’s readings/activities, students will be able to:
- Understand the history and purpose of the CPT taxonomy
- Identify the structure of the CPT code set and explain how it is organized
- Define the different code categories and subcategories within the CPT code set
- Explain the importance of accurate CPT coding in medical billing and reimbursement
- Demonstrate the ability to select and apply appropriate CPT codes for various medical procedures and services
- Recognize common errors in CPT coding and explain how to avoid them
- Understand the relationship between CPT codes and other coding systems used in healthcare, such as ICD-10 and HCPCS
- Explain how changes and updates to the CPT code set are implemented and their implications for medical billing and coding
- Identify resources and tools available to assist with CPT coding, such as coding manuals and software
- Apply best practices for CPT coding and billing compliance in accordance with industry standards and regulations
Readings & Resources
REQUIRED:
- American Medical Association (n.d.). Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®)
- American Medical Association (2021). Code and Guideline Changes
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2023). List of CPT/HCPCS Codes
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2023). Modifier 59 Article
- Video: “Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) International” by American Medical Association (AMA) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
RECOMMENDED:
- American Medical Association (n.d.). Guidelines and Principles outlined in the CPT Coding Manual
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (2018). Modifier 51 vs Modifier 59
- National Government Services, Inc. (n.d.). Access NGSMedicare
DUE: Lab Exercise #3 Mar 12th. Instructions are posted on Blackboard.
Week 7: ONLINE EXAM #1. Instructions provided on Blackboard.
Week 8: Security of Electronic Records and HIPAA Privacy
Student Learning Outcome(s) for This Session: Upon completion of this session’s readings/activities, students will be able to:
- Understand the importance of electronic record security in the healthcare industry, and identify the potential consequences of a data breach or security incident.
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, including their requirements for handling and protecting patient health information.
- Identify the key security vulnerabilities associated with protected health information, and develop strategies to mitigate these vulnerabilities.
- Learn how to enter and manage data in relational data systems, with a focus on maintaining the security and integrity of the data.
- Develop an understanding of best practices for maintaining electronic record security in healthcare organizations, and apply these practices to real-world scenarios.
Readings & Resources
REQUIRED:
- Health Information Privacy: HIPAA Overview (2022) by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
- Securing Electronic Health Records on Mobile Devices (2018) by Gavin O’Brien, Nate Lesser, Brett Pleasant, Sue Wang, Kangmin Zheng, Colin Bowers, and Kyle Kamke, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
- An Introduction to Privacy Engineering and Risk Management in Federal Systems by Sean Brooks, Michael Garcia, Naomi Lefkovitz, Suzanne Lightman, and Ellen Nadeau, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
- A Cost Analysis of Healthcare Sector Data Breaches Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) (2019) by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
- Security Series: Security 101 for Covered Entities (2007) by Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
- Database Design – 2nd Edition by Adrienne Watt and Nelson Eng, BCcampus Open Education is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Chapter 1: Before the Advent of Database Systems and Chapter 7: The Relational Data Model.
RECOMMENDED:
- Cybersecurity News by HealthITSecurity, Xtelligent Healthcare Media is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
- Latest Health Data Breaches News by HealthITSecurity, Xtelligent Healthcare Media is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
- Healthcare Data Breach Statistics by The HIPAA Journal is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
DUE: Lab Exercise #4 Mar 26th. Instructions are posted on Blackboard.
Week 9: Personal Health Records
Student Learning Outcome(s) for This Session: Upon completion of this session’s readings/activities, students will be able to:
- Understand the concept of personal health records (PHRs) and their significance in healthcare management.
- Learn how to create and maintain a personal health record, including gathering and organizing relevant medical information.
- Develop proficiency in using digital tools and platforms to store and access personal health records securely.
- Explore the benefits and challenges of sharing personal health records with healthcare providers and understand the importance of privacy and data security.
- Gain knowledge on leveraging personal health records for proactive healthcare management, such as monitoring health metrics, setting health goals, and tracking progress over time.
Readings & Resources
REQUIRED:
- Personal Health Records: Improving Health Care Quality by HealthIT.gov.
- Personal Health Records: What Health Care Providers Need to Know by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HealthIT.gov.
- Personal Health Records by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
- Coghlin, L. (2017). Personal health records: Learning from voices of experience. Patient Information Forum. Retrieved from https://pifonline.org.uk/resources/publications/guides-to-health/.
- Wyatt J, Hoogewerf J, Quinn N et al. (2017). Personal health record user insights: Final report. Royal College of Physicians, London.
- Video: Personal Health Record (PHR) for Patients by DHA Connected Health.
7. Video: Personal Health Record (PHR) for Providers by DHA Connected Health.
RECOMMENDED:
- Your Personal Health Record (PHR): A Guide to Maintaining Health History by United States of Health Care.
- Sarwal, D., & Gupta, V. (2022). Personal Health Record. In StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557757/.
DUE: Writing Assignment #2 Apr 2nd. Instructions are posted on Blackboard.
Week 10: Software Systems in Physician Offices
Student Learning Outcome(s) for this Session: Upon completion of this session’s readings and activities, students will be able to:
- Understand the importance of software systems in tracking and monitoring patient flow in physician offices, and how it can improve patient care and workflow efficiency
- Understand the importance of screening procedures for identifying at-risk individuals
- Understand the principles of clinical coordination and management of ambulatory procedures
- Understand the benefits and limitations of e-prescribing in healthcare
- Understand the potential risks and errors associated with e-prescribing and how to prevent them
Readings & Resources
REQUIRED:
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs
- HealthIT.gov: Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Case-Studies
- American Medical Association (AMA). EHR and Health IT
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Electronic Prescribing
- Video: Grow your practice | AdvancedMD Medical Office Software
- Video: WorkflowRT Patient Flow Video
RECOMMENDED:
- Video: Having Surgery Without Going to The Hospital – Ambulatory Surgery Centers
- Video: New York State Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Introduction
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