Wisdom Is Key Protection Before, During and After Health Information Privacy and Security Week

CHICAGO, April 14, 2009 — The American Health Information Management Association will continue its commitment to address growing issues surrounding privacy and security of health information when it sponsors the sixth annual Health Information Privacy and Security Week, April 12 through 18. The theme this year is “Protecting Information—It’s a Top Priority.”

This annual event raises awareness on the critical need to educate and inform healthcare professionals, institutions, and consumers about actively protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of health information. To ensure information is protected throughout  healthcare’s  transition to electronic health information management systems, consumers must remain aware of risks by monitoring tools and technologies; including electronic clinical records, personal health records, and electronic prescribing. Visit myPHR.com for detailed consumer health information and consumer privacy rights. 

“The Obama Administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act addresses the need for electronic medical records and health information technology,” said AHIMA President Vera Rulon, director of team leader business analysis, design and communications at Pfizer, Inc., New York, New York. “Continually educating healthcare professionals about the privacy and security of sensitive health information is a crucial step towards healthcare reform.”

Because privacy and security are such hot topics in this technology-driven era, AHIMA will host an online-exclusive event in which five industry experts will provide insight on these issues during Health Information Privacy and Security Week. Each day new articles will be posted for you to read and comment on at http://journal.ahima.org/. The lineup for authors includes:

Monday - Taking a Stand on Sanctions, Vera Rulon, MS, RHIT, CCS, FAHIMA, AHIMA President

Tuesday - Medical Identity Theft and Red Flag Rules, Chris Apgar, CISSP, President, Apgar & Associates LLC

Wednesday - Breach Notification Involving Protected Health Information, Peter Adler, Attorney at Law, Pepper Hamilton LLP

Thursday - HITECH Act Privacy Provisions' Impact for Health Information Exchanges, Stacie Durkin, RN-C, RHIA, MBA, Owner, Durkin & Associates

Friday - The Red Flags Rule: Protecting Providers and Patients from Medical Identity Theft, Steven Toporoff, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission

About AHIMA

The American Health Information Management Association is America’s leading professional society whose mission is to “improve healthcare by advancing best practices and standards for health information management and [serve as] the trusted source for education, research and professional credentialing.” AHIMA represents more than 53,000 specially educated HIM professionals who serve healthcare and the public by managing, analyzing and utilizing data vital for health system management. www.ahima.org