CEHRS - Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist Patient Portal and Education Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient calls the clinic stating they cannot see their recent lab results on the patient portal, though their provider said the results would be available. What is the MOST likely reason for this issue that a CEHRS should investigate first?
- The patient is looking in the wrong section of the portal.
- The lab interface to the EHR is malfunctioning for all patients.
- The lab results have not yet been reviewed and electronically released by the provider. (Correct answer)
- The patient's portal account has been temporarily deactivated due to inactivity.
Correct answer: The lab results have not yet been reviewed and electronically released by the provider.
Many EHR systems have a default workflow where diagnostic results are held in a provider's inbox for review before being released to the patient portal. This is a safety measure to ensure a provider can add context or contact the patient about sensitive results. It is the most common and logical first place for a CEHRS to check.
Question 2: Which federal incentive program, now part of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), was instrumental in promoting the adoption of patient portals to meet patient engagement objectives?
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- Meaningful Use (Correct answer)
- HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act
- Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Correct answer: Meaningful Use
The Meaningful Use program (now called Promoting Interoperability within MIPS) included specific objectives that required eligible professionals and hospitals to provide patients with timely online access to their health information, a requirement primarily met through the implementation and use of patient portals.
Question 3: A CEHRS is assisting an elderly patient who is hesitant to use the patient portal, stating they are not comfortable with computers. Which of the following is the MOST effective educational strategy?
- Advising the patient to ask a family member to manage their portal account.
- Providing the patient with a comprehensive, multi-page user manual to study at home.
- Directing the patient to the portal's online 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ) page.
- Offering a brief, in-person demonstration of a single, high-value feature, such as viewing appointments. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Offering a brief, in-person demonstration of a single, high-value feature, such as viewing appointments.
For patients with low technical literacy, a hands-on, simplified demonstration is the most effective approach. It builds confidence by focusing on one relevant task, making the technology seem less intimidating and more manageable than a large manual or self-service online help resources.
Question 4: Which of the following is a primary function of the 'secure messaging' feature within a patient portal?
- To allow patients to communicate with their insurance company about claims.
- To provide a platform for emergency medical communication with on-call providers.
- To enable HIPAA-compliant, non-urgent communication between the patient and the care team. (Correct answer)
- To facilitate social networking between patients who have similar health conditions.
Correct answer: To enable HIPAA-compliant, non-urgent communication between the patient and the care team.
Secure messaging is designed as a HIPAA-compliant tool for non-urgent communication, such as asking follow-up questions, requesting prescription refills, or clarifying instructions. Portals explicitly state that this feature should not be used for medical emergencies.
Question 5: When a CEHRS is enrolling a new patient for portal access at the clinic, which step is MOST critical for authenticating the patient's identity and protecting their health information?
- Verifying the patient's identity using a government-issued photo ID. (Correct answer)
- Sending a confirmation link to the patient's provided email address.
- Asking the patient to create a security question they can remember.
- Providing the patient with a brochure on the portal's security features.
Correct answer: Verifying the patient's identity using a government-issued photo ID.
Before granting access to sensitive ePHI, HIPAA's Person or Entity Authentication standard requires the covered entity to verify that the individual is who they claim to be. Using a government-issued photo ID is a standard and reliable method for identity proofing in person.
Question 6: A primary benefit of using the EHR to deliver patient-specific educational materials through the patient portal is that it:
- eliminates the need for the provider to verbally discuss the condition with the patient.
- guarantees that the patient will read and fully comprehend the material.
- allows for automated, timely delivery of information directly relevant to the patient's diagnosis. (Correct answer)
- satisfies a core requirement for all private insurance payer contracts.
Correct answer: allows for automated, timely delivery of information directly relevant to the patient's diagnosis.
EHRs can be configured to use patient data, such as a new diagnosis code, to automatically suggest or send relevant educational materials. This ensures the education is highly specific to the patient's current condition and is delivered in a timely manner, enhancing the care provided.
CEHRS - Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist Patient Portal and Education Questions and Answers 1
A patient calls the clinic stating they cannot see their recent lab results on the patient portal, though their provider said the results would be available.
What is the MOST likely reason for this issue that a CEHRS should investigate first?