Standards, Regulations, and Initiative

External regulations and initiatives seek to ensure that a proper record is kept by those who interact with patients as this may make future interactions easier and more effective. Regulation also ensures that patient records are used ethically and the privacy of the patient is observed. It also ensures that quality service is offered to patients who visit health establishments (Goetzinger, Lee, & Widdows, 2007).

Standards, regulations, and initiatives sometimes bring in new challenges to the profession. First, they limit the assistance that may be given to the patient while attempting to protect them. This limitation may come in the form of who has access to this information while keeping in mind the time available for decision making in the health industry. Accessibility of patient information sometimes seems too far for the health practitioners who may need that information to help the patient (Ziel, 1998).

The regulations also bring about new costs in terms of workforce and machinery. These costs are sometimes unclear as to who should foot them. These costs sometimes may be too much for the health company(Goetzinger, Lee, & Widdows, 2007).

Regulations and standards in the health information industry are mostly implemented within the areas of jurisdictions. Their intention is to govern the rights of the patient in terms of service and access to prompt medical services. The best way to understand them is to consult with the respective health regulatory bodies (Gostin, Jr, & Marks, 2002).

Regulations, standards, and initiatives create jobs in the health industry. These jobs come in the form requiring more workforces in a health information department to ensure that the department is more effective. The regulatory bodies are another source of jobs. For proper regulation of information systems, the regulatory bodies require people in the field to ensure regulations are adhered to (Ziel, 1998).

It is the role of the HIM manager to ensure regulations are adhered to in his department. To do this, he may opt to carry out certain measures. First, he should have within his department sufficient workforce to work on deal with the proper management of information. He should also examine the records periodically to ensure the regulations are followed.

References

Goetzinger, L., Lee, Y. J., & Widdows, R. (2007). Value-driven consumer e-health information search behavior. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing. doi:10.1108/17506120710762988

Gostin, L. O., Jr, H. J., & Marks, L. (2002). The Nationalization of Health Information Privacy Protections.

Ziel, S. E. (1998). Federal regulations governing health information security published. Aorn. doi:10.1016/S0001-2092(06)62385-5