HIT/EHR Test

⭐ UNIT 1 — MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

🔵 What HIT Is

HIT = Health Information Technology → technology used to store, retrieve, and share healthcare info.

Why HIT matters (4 KEY REASONS):

  1. Protects privacy

  2. Reduces medical errors

  3. Reduces cost (less paperwork, fewer repeated tests)

  4. Improves care coordination

✨ Memory trick: PERC
Privacy
Errors ↓
Reduce cost
Coordinate care

🔵 ARRA

ARRA = economic stimulus act that invested in HIT.

🔵 Groups Affected by HIT

  • Insurance – sees claims, pays part of costs

  • Pharmacy – fills prescriptions, checks interactions

  • Healthcare facility – hospitals, ER, surgery centers

  • Healthcare providers – doctors, nurses, techs

  • Government agencies – make sure everyone follows laws

🔵 Before HIT

  • Records were faxed/mailed

  • Staff had to call other offices

  • Patients often carried their own records
    → Slow, inconvenient, could cause errors

🔵 After HIT

  • Providers can instantly access records

  • Access is controlled by authorization

  • Faster, safer, more accurate care

🔵 ePrescribing (eRx)

Real-time electronic sending of prescriptions → fewer errors + safer meds.

🔵 PHR (Personal Health Record)

A health record maintained by the patient.

Includes: allergies, family history, meds, surgeries, labs, vaccines, etc.
Benefits: all info in one place, easy to share, helps doctors make decisions.

🔵 HIPAA Rights (5 YOU MUST KNOW)

  1. Access – see your info

  2. Disclosure – see who saw your info

  3. Accuracy – correct mistakes

  4. Notice – be told privacy rules

  5. Complaint – file a report

✨ Memory trick: A DANC(e)
Access
Disclosure
Accuracy
Notice
Complaint

⭐ UNIT 2 — MOST IMPORTANT THINGS

🔵 HITECH Act

Part of ARRA → pushes the use of EHRs and strengthens HIPAA.

🔵 EHR vs EMR (VERY TESTED)

EHR

  • Shared across multiple facilities

  • Used by different providers

  • “Big picture” record

EMR

  • Used only within ONE provider’s office

  • Like a digital version of a paper chart

✨ Memory trick:
EHR = Everywhere
EMR = My office

🔵 Benefits of EHR

  • Complete & accurate info

  • Easy access

  • Empowers patients (PHR access, portal access)

🔵 Meaningful Use Program

Created by CMS to encourage EHR adoption.

Providers had to prove:

  • Care coordination

  • ePrescribing

  • Patient access to PHRs

Later changed to focus on interoperability (systems talking to each other).

🔵 Barriers to EHR (MUST KNOW LIST)

  • Cost

  • Training

  • Resistance & low computer literacy

  • Compatibility issues

  • Privacy concerns

  • Workflow disruption

  • System downtime

  • Liability

✨ Memory trick: CTRC PWL
(Cost, Training, Resistance, Compatibility, Privacy, Workflow, Liability)

🔵 Tabs & Navigation (Basics Only)

You do NOT need every detail — just these functions:

  • Home: to-do list, meaningful use dashboard

  • Schedule: make appointments

  • eRx: send prescriptions

  • Messages: secure communication

  • Labs/Imaging: see test results

  • Charts: facesheet, history, prescriptions, appointments, referrals

  • Documents: pending/signed

  • Reports: reports & billing

⭐ UNIT 3 — MOST IMPORTANT THINGS

🔵 HIPAA

Originally to let people keep insurance when changing jobs → now mainly about protecting PHI.

HIPAA protects:

  • PHI privacy

  • Patient rights

  • Proper access to information

🔵 HITECH Strengthens HIPAA

Adds:

  • Stricter rules

  • Bigger penalties

  • Stronger enforcement

🔵 What PHI Includes

ANY health info that can identify a person:
Name, DOB, SSN, address, photos, medical info, etc.

🔵 Security Rule (KNOW THE 3 PARTS)

  1. Administrative safeguards – policies, procedures

  2. Physical safeguards – locks, building security, physical protection

  3. Technical safeguards – passwords, encryption, electronic protection

✨ Memory trick: APT (Admin, Physical, Technical)

🔵 Breaches

Incidental – accidental
Purposeful – intentional (curiosity, snooping)

If <500 people affected → notify individuals + annual report
If >500 → notify individuals AND immediately notify DHHS

🔵 Encryption

Turns data unreadable without proper access.

⭐ SUPER QUICK MASTER SUMMARY (what to memorize fast)

  • HIT = tech in healthcare → reduces errors, cost, improves care + privacy

  • ARRA → funded HIT; HITECH → pushed EHR

  • EHR = shared everywhere; EMR = one provider

  • Meaningful Use = CMS incentives to use EHR correctly

  • PHR = patient-managed health record

  • HIPAA → protects PHI, gives 5 patient rights

  • PHI = any identifiable health info

  • Security Rule = administrative + physical + technical safeguards

  • Breaches: incidental vs purposeful; <500 vs >500 reporting rules