Latest News

AllFeaturedGeneralPress Releases

Study Reveals One Reason Why Many Hospitals Struggle With Quality, Safety and Costs

Source: Ohio State University for Infection Control Today As hospital leaders continue to feel pressure to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs, a new study reveals one reason why many organizations fall short. Use of evidence-based practice among chief nurses and their hospitals is relatively low, according to a survey led by Bernadette Melnyk, dean of…

Read MoreStudy Reveals One Reason Why Many Hospitals Struggle With Quality, Safety and Costs

HIPAA Rule Change Part of Move to Fight Gun Violence

By Joseph Conn for Modern Healthcare January 6, 2016 Only a few healthcare organizations report to the federal database that conducts background searches on people who want to buy guns, but those groups will get a little more latitude through a final HHS rule that’s part of a White House package announced this week aimed…

Read MoreHIPAA Rule Change Part of Move to Fight Gun Violence

Take Advantage of Expanded External Cause Codes in ICD-10

By Cathie Wilde, RHIA, CCS, AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer for ICD10 monitor Monday, 11 January 2016 During the transition to ICD-10, external cause codes – the codes that capture specific details about an injury or health event – received a bad reputation. Many ICD-10 naysayers highlighted what they viewed as the absurdity of them. In an…

Read MoreTake Advantage of Expanded External Cause Codes in ICD-10

The End of Meaningful Use: 6 Health IT Leaders React

By Akanksha Jayanthi and Max Green for Becker’s Health IT & CIO Review January 15, 2016 While CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt’s announcement of the end of meaningful use was met with a collective sigh of relief from the healthcare industry, questions, concerns and expectations regarding the future remain. Though frustrating, many IT leaders do…

Read MoreThe End of Meaningful Use: 6 Health IT Leaders React

OIG Says No Fines for Hospital’s Transcription Service

By Eric Topor from Health Care Daily Report for BNA Dec. 29 — The Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General posted an advisory opinion Dec. 29 (No. 15–15) that said it wouldn’t impose sanctions on a hospital’s proposal to provide market rate transcription services for radiology tests performed at the hospital for patients of an unaffiliated…

Read MoreOIG Says No Fines for Hospital’s Transcription Service

A Mobile Device Triggered a HIPAA Breach In Your Office… Now What?

By Jennifer B. Cohen, Esq. for Physicians News Digest In today’s health care environment, even the smallest practices have integrated the use of mobile devices into their daily practices; recordkeeping using laptops, tablets, and even cell phones has become a norm, rather than an exception. This is no surprise, given the portability and convenience of using…

Read MoreA Mobile Device Triggered a HIPAA Breach In Your Office… Now What?

An ICD-10 Tale: Twas the Night Before Christmas

In the true spirit of the holidays, I am sharing an ICD-10 coding gift that was given to me in hopes that you will enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you, Annie Boynton, BS, CPC, COC (formerly CPC-H), CPC-P, CPC-I, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P, CPhT. Your clever mind, generosity, and humility have no limits.…

Read MoreAn ICD-10 Tale: Twas the Night Before Christmas

The Leapfrog Group names 2015 Top Hospitals: 5 things to know

By Shannon Barnet for Becker’s Infection Control & Clinical Quality The Leapfrog Group has recognized 98 hospitals as Top Hospitals on its 2015 list, up from 94 hospitals in 2014 and 90 in 2013. The list recognizes organizations that performed at the highest national levels in quality and safety. All total, more than 1,600 hospitals…

Read MoreThe Leapfrog Group names 2015 Top Hospitals: 5 things to know

The Essentials of Medical Necessity

By Laurie Desjardins, CPC-I for For The Record Vol. 27 No. 11 P. 6 The Social Security Act defines medical necessity as follows: “Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, no payment may be made under Part A or Part B for any expenses incurred for items or services, which are not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis…

Read MoreThe Essentials of Medical Necessity