Dispute Resolution in Electronic Health Records

CHICAGO, November 4, 2009—The national technological migration to electronic health records (EHRs), the creation of patient health data rights, and the lack of standardization in healthcare data are converging toward a tsunami of consumer requests, complaints and disputes involving the accuracy and quality of personal health information, according to the cover story in the November issue of the Journal of AHIMA.

The issue of quality personal health information will require communication and negotiation between healthcare consumers and providers. This article examines why patient access is regarded as allowing patients to become more active participants in their own healthcare, leading to higher quality and lower healthcare costs.

The implementation of the HIPAA privacy rule—grants individuals the legal right to receive copies and challenge the accuracy of their health records—did not boost patient requests for healthcare providers to correct or change information in their records. The demand for these requests will change as patients gain access to the information in their providers’ EHRs, or collect and manage their own personal health records through online sources.

Dispute Resolution explores how public and private initiatives are also advancing the ongoing change because patient access to personal health information is a recognized part of the effort to improve health outcomes, and it is a criteria for the meaningful use of health information technology as defined in incentive programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Additionally, a sidebar explains how systematic issues could primarily cause increases in requests, complaints and disputes from healthcare consumers. It also explains how health literacy is another factor for potential disputes because individuals need to know how to obtain, process and understand basic health information.

Also in this issue

This month’s Journal of AHIMA includes the practice brief “Electronic Signature, Attestation and Authorship,” that discusses the complexities of e-signatures for electronic health records. This brief provides a glimpse into the technology used, health IT standards, and recommendations on best practices for e-signatures.

Read these articles, our Legal e-speaking article and more in the November issue of the Journal of AHIMA or online at journal.ahima.org.

About AHIMA

Representing more than 53,000 specially educated Health Information Management professionals in the United States and around the world, the American Health Information Management Association is committed to promoting and advocating for high quality research, best practices and effective standards in health information and to actively contributing to the development and advancement of health information professionals worldwide. AHIMA’s enduring goal is quality healthcare through quality information. www.ahima.org