Healthcare Technology & Information Systems Flashcards

During an EHR implementation, which phase involves configuring the system to match the organization's workflows and data entry requirements?

Answer: System build and configuration

The system build and configuration phase involves customizing the EHR to align with the organization's specific clinical workflows, templates, order sets, and documentation requirements.

A ransomware attack has encrypted a hospital's EHR data and the attackers are demanding payment. Which preparedness measure would have been most effective in minimizing the impact?

Answer: Maintaining regular, tested data backups stored offline

Regular, tested offline backups allow an organization to restore encrypted data without paying the ransom, making them the most critical defense against ransomware impact.

Which act strengthened HIPAA privacy and security rules, extended responsibilities to business associates, and increased penalties for violations?

Answer: HITECH Act

The HITECH Act of 2009 strengthened HIPAA by expanding the rules to business associates, increasing civil and criminal penalties, and requiring breach notifications.

A healthcare administrator is evaluating cloud-based storage for patient records. Which consideration is MOST critical from a compliance standpoint?

Answer: Whether the vendor will sign a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

Any cloud vendor handling protected health information (PHI) must sign a BAA, which establishes the vendor's responsibility to safeguard PHI under HIPAA.

In revenue cycle management technology, what does an 'eligibility verification system' primarily do?

Answer: Confirms a patient's insurance coverage and benefits before or at the point of service

Eligibility verification systems automatically check a patient's insurance coverage, co-pays, deductibles, and benefits in real-time, reducing claim denials and improving collections.

Which image storage and retrieval standard is used specifically for managing medical imaging data such as X-rays and MRI scans?

Answer: DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine)

DICOM is the international standard for transmitting, storing, retrieving, printing, and displaying medical imaging information, enabling interoperability between imaging devices and systems.

What is the role of a 'super user' during an EHR go-live?

Answer: A trained staff member who provides peer-to-peer support and troubleshooting on the floor during go-live

Super users are frontline staff trained extensively on the EHR who serve as on-the-floor resources to assist colleagues with questions and issues during and after go-live.