Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2010

There is increasing recognition that health IT should work for patients, too, providing them with information they need in ways that are convenient to them. But although the journey is beginning, no one has a map.

The health IT landscape is still uncharted territory for most US provi....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2011

Seven stories unfolding in 2011 illustrate the sweeping changes under way in what will be an active and sometimes tumultuous year in health information management.
Each year brings change to HIM, whether it is coding modifications, compliance changes, or new technology. But 2011 promises....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: January 2012

A forest of issues crowds the 2012 HIM landscape. AHIMA practice experts offer a guide for the year ahead.

The seedlings of change planted in 2009 by the announcement of the ICD-10 transition and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have sprouted into a towering forest of....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: November 2011

A year after opening their doors, the federally sponsored health IT regional extension centers have nearly met their recruitment goals. Now the hard part starts…

The Regional Extension Centers (RECs) faced a near impossible mission.

Develop from scratch 62 RECs nation....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2012

Large health systems and their IT vendors are creating private information exchange networks at a time when federally funded state operations are gearing up for launch. Is there room for private and public offerings in the new HIE marketplace?

Many state level health information....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: AHIMA regulation analysis | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2013

At 138 fine-print pages, the final rule detailing the HITECH Act’s modifications to HIPAA privacy and security requirements is not a quick or easy read. But it is an important read since the content of the Federal Register post drastically impacts HIM professionals and their business....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: August 2009

In California, teasing apart state and federal breach notification laws highlights the challenges organizations everywhere face in determining their responsibilities under ARRA’s new privacy regulations.

Within healthcare organizations, the temptation for some staff can be great: wh....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2011

After debate, speculation, and anxiety throughout the industry, the first physicians and hospitals have embarked on stage 1 of the meaningful use program. So far… so good.

The first physicians and hospitals have embarked on stage 1 of the meaningful use journey; it has been nin....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: September 2010

Meaningful use and pay-for-performance are shining a spotlight on quality measures. There are hundreds of measures in use, but most fall within three broad categories.

Just performing a healthcare service may not be enough to receive payment anymore. Increasingly, payers are ty....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: April 2012

It has been a decade since the first privacy officers took their jobs in response to the HIPAA privacy rule. A slew of changes since then have added more responsibility, required more skills, and demanded more time of them than anyone could have imagined.

When Nancy Davis, R....