Public Comment Period for Interoperability

The Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP) announces the opening of the public comment period for the following Interoperability Specifications (IS), Capabilities (CAP), Technical Note (TN) and other construct documents:

• IS07 - Medication Management Interoperability Specification
• IS09 - Consultations and Transfers of Care Interoperability Specification
• IS11 - Public Health Case Reporting Interoperability Specification
• IS91 - Maternal and Child Health Interoperability Specification
• IS98 - Medical Home Interoperability Specification
• CAP93 – Scheduling Capability
• CAP119 - Communicate Structured Document Capability
• CAP135 – Retrieve and Populate Form Capability
• CAP136 - Communicate Emergency Alert Capability
• TN907 - Common Data Transport Technical Note
• TP13 - Manage Sharing of Documents Transaction Package
• C28 - Emergency Care Summary Document Using IHE Emergency Department Encounter Summary (EDES) Component
• C80 - Clinical Document and Message Terminology Component
• C83 - CDA Content Modules Component
• C148 - EMS Transfer of Care Component
• C154 - Data Dictionary Component
• C162 - Plan of Care Component
• C165 - Anonymize Long Term and Post Acute Care Assessment Data Component
• C166 - Operative Note Document Component
• C168 - Long Term and Post Acute Care Assessments Component
• C170 - Vital Records Component
The public comment period on these documents will be open from Monday, February 1st until Close of Business, Friday, February 26th. HITSP members and public stakeholders are encouraged to review these documents and provide comments through the HITSP comment tracking system. The documents and the HITSP comment tracking system are located on www.hitsp.org.
As stated at the HITSP Panel meeting and in document HITSP 10 N 459 – No-cost extension to the HITSP contract, there is currently no plan for formal disposition of the comments gathered, and such work will be deferred until the resumption of normal HITSP activity. ANSI will export all comments gathered during the comment period, and publish them on the HITSP public website for broader access by members and industry.

Questions about the documents, or the process for review should be addressed to me, the HITSP Secretariat at mmaasdeane@ansi.org.

AHIMA Goes To Washington

AHIMA Launches White Paper Series on Meaningful Use

This week AHIMA launches a series of short white papers analyzing the recently released notice of proposed rulemaking on “meaningful use,” the federal incentive program to encourage EHR adoption and use. Each week the series will review the notice and discuss the issues for hospitals and physician practices that decide to apply for these payments. In later weeks the papers will cover AHIMA’s comments on the proposed regulations. The series is available on the AHIMA ARRA Web page and the Journal of AHIMA Web site, where readers can discuss the issues, opportunities, and challenges with each other. The tentative schedule:

• Week 1—Overview of the NPRM and the Meaningful Use Definition
• Week 2—Continuation of the Overview and Meaningful Use Mechanisms
• Week 3—Meaningful Use and Certification
• Week 4—HIT Functionality Measures for Eligible Providers/Hospitals
• Week 5—Clinical Quality Measures for Eligible Providers/Hospitals
• Week 6—Process for Demonstrating Meaningful Use
• Week 7-8—AHIMA Comments on Meaningful Use

Watch for announcements of new papers each week in e-alert. AHIMA has already provided an overview of the notice of proposed rulemaking based on the draft issued on December 30, 2009. This can be found at the AHIMA ARRA Web page.


AHIMA Advantage Goes Digital in 2010

Look for your first digital edition of AHIMA Advantage beginning with the February issue. In 2010, AHIMA Advantage will be offering three digital issues in the months of February, June, and October and three print issues in April, August, and December. The digital editions will come to you much faster via e-mail and offer additional features such as searchability and portability. No software will be needed to access the digital versions and they will be available at your convenience. You will be receiving your first digital edition of AHIM Advantage in February. Please let us know what you think! E-mail us at advantage@ahima.org.

Advocates Sought For 2010 AHIMA Capitol Hill Day

AHIMA’s Capitol Hill Day is an opportunity for members of the 111th Congress to hear directly from HIM professionals who are working to ensure quality healthcare through quality information. This second session of Congress must address HIM issues beyond the coverage of the ARRA stimulus package or healthcare reform. Issues remain to be addressed including HIM and allied health education, privacy and security, red flags rules, and record audits. Who better to inform Congress than HIM professionals working on the front line of change and facing many practical questions that can be resolved in part by members of Congress?

AHIMA members will visit Capitol Hill on March 23, a day after AHIMA holds its Winter Team Talks in Washington, DC. Imagine the impact if every member of Congress received a visit from one or more constituents carrying a message of interest to the HIM profession. Join us and plans to participate early by going to the Hill Day Web site for more information.

Reservations with AHIMA must be made by February 26 to accommodate the Congressional visit appointment process. Hotel reservations should also be made no later than February 19, to obtain a room at the Hilton Washington Hotel. Learn more here. Let’s send a professional message to Congress and move our HIM agenda forward.

Lighthouse Career Agents is excited to announce that we have recently forged strategic client relationships with key health care systems across the United States. Information Technology is the core focus of LCA. With our strategic alliances, market knowledge, state of the art recruiting software and global databases along with our vast networking capabilities, we are your top choice for Candidates looking for a career move and Clients needing to fill their positions.
Currently we are accepting resumes for multiple positions that need to be filled ASAP, if you are looking for a change or career move please submit your resume today for consideration of present and future HIM positions in HIT. We also would like to form new relationships with clients to fill the positions that you have open currently and in the future. When the EHR/EMR wave hits, you want to be positioned with a solid recruiting firm to help weather the storm of change that is about to ensue. There will be a very chaotic period similar to the y2k onslaught that occurred back in the late 90's, of job description changing, new positions created, contract jobs for specified periods springing up. Hospitals and health care systems will lose money if they don't enact these government mandates by a specified time for each stage of the implementation process, so natural pressures of time constraint are inevitable, all the more reason for health care providers to align themselves with top recruiters now.

Physical Therapists Needed Now !

Physical Therapists Need To Be Part Of Reform Equation

Along with football, pumpkins and chrysanthemums, the month of October also represents National Physical Therapy Month. Each year at this time, physical therapists across the country are deservedly recognized for their outstanding contributions and achievements. This year with health care at the forefront of a heated national debate, it seems more important than ever to clearly articulate the benefits, challenges and principles that encapsulate the physical therapy profession.

Every day almost one million Americans are treated by a physical therapist in a hospital, clinic, health agency, nursing home or private practice. For these patients the benefits of physical therapy are evident, however the idea of physical therapy as a cost-effective alternative to expensive surgeries and prescription drugs is sometimes less obvious. For every $1 spent on rehabilitation services, it is estimated that $11 is saved on long-term disability cost. The actual cost savings associated with the empowerment of patients to gain control over their symptoms is tremendous.

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants also are key health care team members who address preventative initiatives, such as reducing falls, improving physical activity to mitigate chronic disease and tailoring wellness programs for populations that have chronic conditions or disabilities. I strongly encourage legislators to ensure that rehabilitation services are an essential element of a standard benefits package in any proposal to reform the insurance delivery system and eliminate unnecessary legal and regulatory barriers that limit access to high quality health care services provided by physical therapists.

According to a survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, next to clergy, physical therapists ranked highest in job satisfaction. In a similar survey by the Wall Street Journal’s Career Publication, physical therapy was rated as one of the eight best careers in the United States. Despite all of the accolades attributed to the profession, the reality is that shortages of physical therapists plague our health care systems, especially in rural areas.

The demand for physical therapists is expected to grow 27 percent between 2006 and 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The American Physical Therapy Association recently conducted a study that found in the current market between 13 percent and 18 percent of physical therapy jobs are open.

We have current openings nationwide including in a beautiful lakeside community in Northern California, Submit Resume to be considered for a great opportunity in a great location.

Contact ericmontgomery@lighthousecareeragents.com for opportunities nationwide and in California

Fighting Job Loss with H.I.T.

I read this article in the Rome News Tribune, as unemployment increases in many states one sure way to make yourself indispensable in the coming years and currently, is to get into the H.I.M. field. This can be done with as little as a 2 year degree or as intense as a Masters Program.



One new set of career fields is showcasing itself during the week of November 1-7, Health Information Technology Week, according to a Georgia Northwestern Technical College Press Release

They are called, “Ahead-Of-The-Curve-Careers.” With double digit unemployment numbers, today’s jobs are going away.

That means you and your children need to know what jobs are the next big thing.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College is one of the few colleges in the region offering the Health Information Technician program.

H.I.T. is one of the biggest new options being promoted by everyone from the largest health care companies in the world to the Commander-In-Chief.

As part of his health plan, President Barack Obama has stated the importance of streamlining health information technology.

“Every time you see your doctor, deal with your health insurance provider, or a medication is prescribed, Health Information Technicians are handling the tasks,” says Wendy Pollock, Director of the H.I.T. program at Georgia Northwestern.

The new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 speaks of many issues. Among them is an effort of President Obama’s to ensure that every American has an Electronic Health Record by 2014.

The H.I.T. portion of the plan, or HITECH as it is known, is something which acknowledges the importance of state-of-the-art software, Internet connectivity, and telemedicine information in tomorrow’s world. “Basically, we are training students for tomorrow’s careers. In some cases, career fields which have just begun to form and at an explosive rate,” said Pollock.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, most companies will hire Registered Health Information Technicians. This means the person must pass a written examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association. “However, to take this exam, you have to have at least a two-year degree from an accredited program. That’s where Georgia Northwestern comes in,” said Pollock.

H.I.T. careers are expected grow twenty percent over the next several years. GNTC offers the Health Information Technician Associate Degree program which is accredited by the American Health Information Management Association. A careerbuilder.com survey shows the average salary at $31,000 per year. Due to the advancing years of the baby boomers, new healthcare options, and the new healthcare issues facing many Americans, H.I.T.’s are in high demand throughout the region.

Insurance Claims Analysts, Records Technicians, Physician Practice Manager, Coding Specialists, Compliance Officers, Patient Information Coordinators, Clinical Data Specialitsts, and Data Resource Officers are among the dozens of new career fields opening up as a result of the new demand. “Business is bad for so many of our companies today due to different reasons,” said Pollock. “One thing is never in question, though. Given the controversy over healthcare issues today, we know that business is booming in healthcare and the technology it takes and will take in the future to maintain it.”