You have covered a lot in this course. You explored the different healthcare delivery systems and the role of the HIM professional in each. You examined how politics, technological advances, and research have promoted and advanced the field of health information management. You learned how entities like the Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) evaluate and certify the technology. You looked at how data is stored in the electronic health record and health information systems in general and how it is used for patient care and administrative functions. You also learned about the requirements for keeping data safe and private. HIPAA is not just about privacy and security; it also specifies that patients have the right to see their own medical information, opening the door for patient collaboration with their physicians on their personal healthcare. Data is useless unless it can be accessed in an understandable way, hence the need for standardized terminologies and classification systems. In healthcare, as in other businesses and enterprises, ethical behavior and ethical handling of information is critical. As healthcare enterprises adopt tools such as social media, the HIM professional has to consider the implications of everything released to the public. The HIM professional needs a working knowledge of the hardware and software technology necessary to support the requirements for managing health information. Registries and indices must be created or reported to in an effort to capture trends in disease management. Quality is an important topic in all of the areas described above. Quality healthcare delivery, data management, administrative functions, and health management are all important and cannot be overlooked. In addition, patient safety is a primary concern and the Joint Commission’s Patient Safety Goals need to be supported by the information systems.

Discussion: How are social determinants of health impacting patients and providers? How does Healthy People 2020 and health literacy affect quality of care?

half page minimum, double spaced, times new roman font, 12. No cover page, APA references.