Management of Health Records

Medical data is information about a person's medical history. Signs, etiology, procedures, and outcomes related to the medical problem are included in patient information (WHO, 2008). Patient data may be used to create an intervention aimed at resolving the health problem. Individual records, as well as data from a large population, may be included in the data. Obtaining, verifying, interpreting, and recording patient health information is what HIM is all about. The medical data contains both current and historical health information (WHO, 2008). To provide excellent patient health care at a health facility, health information data is required. Business, technology, and science are all part of the HIM. Medical professionals are both educated and trained in the latest developments in health information technology. Health practitioners ensure the success of the program. The HIM includes business, technology, and science. Medical practitioners are all trained and equipped with knowledge on the current advances in health information technology. Health professionals ensure the success of medical information management and electronic medical records through the provision of comprehensive, precise and secure patient data.

AHIMA is the leading global organization of HIM specialists. This association serves fifty-two joined elements of the state association and additional 103, 000 health professionals. American Health Information Management Association is known as the prominent source of knowledge for Health Information Management and as the most valued body for complex medical specialist learning and training (AHIMA, 2004). The American medical personnel formed AHIMA in the year 1928 with the primary aim of promoting quality health records. It developed when the American institution of surgeons developed the North America Librarian record Association with the goal of increasing the clinical records standards in health facilities and other health facilities. This development led to the need for quality medical records to patients. Since 1928 the American Association has made several changes such as name (AHIMA, 2004). AHIMA changed its’ name in the year 1938 to AAMRL for a more brief demonstration of membership. AAMRL continued with establishing of rules and regulations and developed medical record specialists. In the year 1970, the association changed its name to American Medical Record Association (AMMRA) due to increase in some medical experts in health care facilities and community health settings. In the year 1991, after the health sector had undergone renovation, decision-making was done by data, and the organization changed its name from AAMR to AHIMA. AHIMA is the current name of the association which entails the extended scope of medical data to the entire care sectors.

The American health information management association guides health information professionals and communities to develop and improve their professional skills and standards. AHIMA aims at improving the HIM system by advocating leadership, providing education, long-term learning and certification (AHIMA, 2008). However the health sector is always evolving, AHIMA aims at advancing precision, trust and significance of medical data. AHIMA leads the industry initiatives and advocates for consistent standards.

AHIMA has ethical codes that are essential to medical information professionals. Code of ethics develops values, and principles that provide guidelines for specialists to adhere to ensure effective decision-making. Codes of ethics are relevant to all, therefore, can be referred to by people, associations, regulatory bodies and agencies. AHIMA ethical obligations include protection of Patient private and confidential data, health care utilization, health progress, and health data maintenance (AHIMA, 2008). Electronic medical records and traditional medical records that contain the patient information should be protected. All AHIMA members and non-members should adhere to patient information protection code. All doctors are responsible for this ethical obligation regardless of occupation location, the procedure of data collection, storage, and security of the collected health data. The health professionals should also pay attention to subtle information such as genetics, health behavior risk factors. When collecting patient information, the primary information guidelines includes, what to be received, handling of data, conditions for information disclosure. In the scenario of the thirty-year-old man, the data on blood tests and kidney scan should be protected and only be disclosed on authorized situations. Therefore the health experts are responsible for patient quality information protection.

The obligation of facilitating precise, comprehensive and reliable health record keeping is essential in coding and providing quality medical information. Therefore all medical professionals should abide by the ethics to ensure success health information management. This code applies to the 30-year-old patient by ensuring the provision of complete and accurate data. If this obligation is observed, then the patient is likely to diagnose of the wrong disease. Supporting the delivery of accurate and comprehensive medical data instruments required for external assessment purposes as illustrated by standards of documentation, authorized coding treaties, rules and guidelines are essential to the success of medical data management. This code applies to the patient during diagnosis and admission.

The technology revolution has brought about changes in HIM. The advancement uses health procedures and data management. Technology has transformed the health sector from traditional methods of medical data management to the use of electronic health recording, computerized physicians order entry system (CPOEs), and clinical decision support system which has improved the quality of health care (Dimick, 2007). Other technological advances include; voice identification software, digital coding, development of patient portals related to restored government quality, and EHR encouragement interventions. The health professionals are therefore required to adapt to the changes so as to improve patient care. Technology is rapidly changing the health professional roles, education and skills needed for the health occupations. Technology will increase the demand for information management, privacy, and protection.

Technology has led to change of roles of medical information practitioners. High demand for HIM services has resulted in the evolution of a wide range of responsibilities. Health information management professionals are increasingly setting standards for EHR and other technological advancements (Dimick, 2007). Technology has also resulted in health experts starting to create awareness to patients, caregivers, and health administrators on records privacy, access, and interpretation. Technology has also led to an evolution of experts who recognize the patient structure and information files and the uses other records.

Technology has led to changes in health education. This shift has led to diversification in roles of the health experts. It has resulted to professional fields such health organizational privacy officer, data mining and analytics, information access and disclosure experts, and document professions who monitor, precision and comprehensiveness of patient medical records. Health information management is essential in a health care. It is critical to ensuring the privacy of patient information. AHIMA ethical codes are essential to a health information management professional. These systems guide them on the data management and providing quality patient care. All health professionals should abide by the AHIMA ethical codes. Technology has led to an evolution in HIM by changing professional roles, education, and privacy. It has resulted in evolution of many health information fields. Technology is predicted to make more changes in the HIM by 2025. Technology impacts positively on HIM system, therefore, all health professional should embrace the new technological changes.



References 

AHIMA (2008). Statement on Health information management HIM as a Multi-National Profession. Retrieved from http://library.ahima.org/doc?oid=100496#.WSBPmZKGPIU.

AHIMA, (2004). Code of Ethics - Body of Knowledge. Journal of AHIMA http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_024277.hcsp.

WHO, (2008). Health Information System. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/WHO_MBHSS_2010_section3_web.pdf?ua=1.

Dimick. C. (2007). Health Information Management 2025: Current “Health IT Revolution” Drastically Changes HIM shortly. Retrieved from, http://www.Health%20Information%20Management%202025_%20Current%20“Health%20IT%20Revolution”%20Drastically%20Changes%20HIM%20in%20The%20Near%20Future.html.