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Nearly haft of the hospitals responding to the influenza survey indicated that inadequate supplies of the H1N1 vaccine hampered efforts to immunize front-line workers. 'In my experience, people tired of [...]

Last winter's H1N1 influenza outbreak exposed major cracks in the health system's supply chain that experts say need to be addressed before another disaster or epidemic strikes. Hospitals responding to [...]

The article discusses the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Middleburg, Zeeland, scholarly institution the Roosevelt Study Center (RSC) in September 2011. It examines the establishment of the RSC, the mission and accomplishments of the RSC, and speakers at the commemoration including founding RSC founding director Cornelis van Minnen, professor William E. Leuchtenberg, and U.S. ambassador Edwin Nolan. The article also discusses the relationship between the RSC and the organization the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA).

The article focuses on a federal guide developed by researchers at RAND Corp. for electronic health record (EHR) users to avoid its unintended consequences. It defines unintended consequences as unexpected and unwanted effects of the implementation and use of EHRs. It says that the guide suggests a series of methods to avoid unintended consequences. It also mentions the Interactive Sociotechnical Analysis (ISTA), a method which can also be used in understanding unintended consequences. INSET: Case Study.

The article focuses on the issue of professional development among health information management (HIM) professionals in the healthcare industry. It says that HIM professionals need professional development to ensure their practice reflects the present concepts and technologies. It states that participation in HIM association is one of the best places to start development. Meanwhile, Anthelio Healthcare Solutions regional vice president Kathy Willis suggests starting with a personal assessment.

The article discusses the growing demand and transition in the field of Human Information Management (HIM). According to the report of the American Institutes for Research (AIR), one of the influencing factors for HIM demand is the HITECH Act which aims to improve the health and patient care services through information technology (IT) investments. Meanwhile, it says that the growth in HIM opportunity requires a shift in roles, in-demand skill sets, and other credentials of HIM professionals.

The article focuses on the need for effective leadership and its significance to health information management (HIM) professionals. It notes that leadership has been needed in all forms of organizations in different levels, particularly in HIM. Sandra Nunn, Presbyterian Healthcare Services' enterprise content and information manager, notes the requirement in order to become an effective leader including well-equipped in knowledge, adequate training, and adept in interpersonal relation.

The article focuses on the training health workers in health information technology (HIT) in the U.S. David Hunt, chief medical officer of the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for HIT, sees lack of health workers who are knowledgeable to information technology (IT) in the country. Therefore, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are working together in filling the gap by training healthcare workers on HIT.

The article discusses the benefits of Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRGs) and Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) to clinical documentation improvement (CDI) programs in hospitals in the U.S. It states that MS-DRG systems identifies three heart failure and shocks DRGs:291. Moreover, hospitals have established CDI programs to avoid a RAC take-back.

The article discusses the use of coding automation to help manage the volume of electronic documentation for electronic health record, streamlining workflow, increase productivity and increase job satisfaction. Computer-assisted coding (CAC) is used by coding professionals with structured text or natural language processing technology to generate codes based on clinical documentation. In addition, CAC should consider the impending transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS to keep their coding skills.

The article focuses on a survey conducted for ascertaining the preparedness levels of the hospitals to tackle influenza pandemic. It provides information on the problems faced by the supply chain of the industry in the recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza facing a shortage of N95 respirators. It describes the preference of the hospitals to keep a low inventory due to doubts about the N95 vaccine's usability either by its expiry or obsoletion of N95 technology.

The article focuses on the use of an operational-level task force as a strategy to prevent wrong site surgery in the U.S. It has been stated that misinformation and misperception are the two causes for the wrong site surgery. The problem can be prevented through the operational-level task force that can be done by observing and interacting with other staff. Moreover, the sign-in protocol should be practiced before patients get into the procedure rooms.

The article discusses the errors in configuration and the use of compromise electronic records to improve patient care. According to the President of Pricare Inc., Barbara Drury, there is a misperception by healthcare providers that the electronic health records (EHRs) are equivalent to good documentation. It is suggested that Health information management (HIM) professionals must look at electronic health records analytically and assess it on behalf of a professional liability insurer.

The article reports that the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has prepared a road map for 2013 to help guide members through the year's rewarding milestones and rocky potholes of change. It states that the year 2013 presents opportunities, promises, as well as hazards for health information management (HIM) professionals. Therefore, HIM experts have summarized the top five topics of 2012 that will continue to change healthcare in 2013.

The article discusses the findings of a survey published in the June 2010 issue of "Materials Management in Health Care" on hospital readiness for the H1N1 influenza outbreak in the U.S. in 2009. Results indicate a persistent shortage of N95 respirators and the need to fit-test new supplies that came from secondary suppliers or state strategic stockpiles. Results show an assessment of the hospitals' overall influenza prevention programs and an estimate of the percentage of health care workers in high-risk areas who had received the vaccine.