Regulation of Medical Records
Medical records provide information about a patient’s health to a caregiver. Having a complete and accurate health record will help practitioners decide what the best treatment option for your patient’s health might be. It can even save your life by identifying what allergies you might have. Here is some information about the medical record regulations that are in place today.
What is in Your Medical Record?
Everyone’s private life can be found online. While criminal offences can be found on government websites, it is more often than not that your phone number or address ends up on websites that you have never even heard of. Luckily, what is found in your medical records is a much more personal and private endeavor. Your blood type, any previous diseases, conditions that have been or are being treated, and any medication that is being taken now or was taken in the past are all important bits of information that can be found in your medical record. Also included in this information are details about patient allergies, as well as details about each visit that you have ever had to the healthcare provider’s clinic.
Updating Medical Records
Medical records, like all legal documents, are kept in order according to the laws that relate to certification, licensing, or a professional medical clinic. Maintenance of your medical records is required by state and federal laws. If something gets put in incorrectly, you might be able to fix it yourself or have your family doctor help you revise it. If you have a medical record that is outdated, serious medical problems could arise. If, as a patient, you fail to fill in all the correct allergies to medications, you could be putting your life at incredible risk.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
The HIPAA Act is a federal law which provides protection for your medical privacy. There are certain bits of electronic health information required to protect this information from disclosure. Under HIPPA, health care providers and other entities that process electronic health information must not discuss or disclose any personal information on a patient’s medical records.
Issued on January 25th 2013, the HHS “Omnibus Rule” made changes to HIPPA’s privacy, security, and rules about data breach that are required by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH.
Department of Defense Health Information Privacy Regulation
In 2003, the DoD regulation was passed which relates to privacy information that is contained in a DoD health-care programs and it ends up applying for all entities in the Department of Defense. The regulation may place additional requirements for privacy in addition to those found in HIPPA. The regulation prohibits certain medical information from getting used for discrimination benefits. A full disclosure of the personal health information is generally prohibited without express written consent. Disclosure may be made in specific cartoon representations. Disclosure may be made to get limited information concerning patients who are receiving treatment and sharing others information.
Unified Electronic Military Health Records
In the current system there are separate groups, the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Defense. The Obama establishment wants to implement an electronic unified military. The system aims at reducing delays in medical treatment available. Since medical records can contain such important and helpful information, there are precedents maintained by even more hard work.
Each time you go to the doctor’s office, a record is made and notes taken. A full medical chart can help a doctor quickly get large amounts of information about you. With regulations to the privacy of patients, like HIPAA and HITECH, your personal information should not be shared with anyone.
Quality System Regulation and Good Manufacturing Practices
The quality system regulation includes requirements related to the methods used in the facilities and controls used for designing, manufacturing, packaging, purchasing, labeling, storing, and installing and servicing of medical devices. All manufacturing facilities undergo FDA inspection to make sure that the quality is compliant.
Labeling
Labels must be put on the device as well as a descriptive and informational literature to accompany the device. This helps patients get an idea of what they are about to use and informs of any important things that might be vital to the products use or the safety of the user.
Medical Device Reporting
Incidents where a device causes, or plays a part in, the death or serious injury of a patient has to be reported to the FDA under the Medical Device Reporting program, or MDR. Additionally, specific malfunctions that occur also need to be reported. Often, these malfunctions do not affect the reliability or effectiveness of a product, but must be reported nonetheless.
By setting rules that must be followed, and not allowing items that do not have FDA approval on the market, regulations help to keep the general public safe. Unsafe products do not get to the stores and the items that are on store shelves are proven to work, time and time again. Check out the FDA’s website for a large amount of information about the products that they control and regulate.
What is in Your Medical Record?
Everyone’s private life can be found online. While criminal offences can be found on government websites, it is more often than not that your phone number or address ends up on websites that you have never even heard of. Luckily, what is found in your medical records is a much more personal and private endeavor. Your blood type, any previous diseases, conditions that have been or are being treated, and any medication that is being taken now or was taken in the past are all important bits of information that can be found in your medical record. Also included in this information are details about patient allergies, as well as details about each visit that you have ever had to the healthcare provider’s clinic.
Updating Medical Records
Medical records, like all legal documents, are kept in order according to the laws that relate to certification, licensing, or a professional medical clinic. Maintenance of your medical records is required by state and federal laws. If something gets put in incorrectly, you might be able to fix it yourself or have your family doctor help you revise it. If you have a medical record that is outdated, serious medical problems could arise. If, as a patient, you fail to fill in all the correct allergies to medications, you could be putting your life at incredible risk.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
The HIPAA Act is a federal law which provides protection for your medical privacy. There are certain bits of electronic health information required to protect this information from disclosure. Under HIPPA, health care providers and other entities that process electronic health information must not discuss or disclose any personal information on a patient’s medical records.
Issued on January 25th 2013, the HHS “Omnibus Rule” made changes to HIPPA’s privacy, security, and rules about data breach that are required by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH.
Department of Defense Health Information Privacy Regulation
In 2003, the DoD regulation was passed which relates to privacy information that is contained in a DoD health-care programs and it ends up applying for all entities in the Department of Defense. The regulation may place additional requirements for privacy in addition to those found in HIPPA. The regulation prohibits certain medical information from getting used for discrimination benefits. A full disclosure of the personal health information is generally prohibited without express written consent. Disclosure may be made in specific cartoon representations. Disclosure may be made to get limited information concerning patients who are receiving treatment and sharing others information.
Unified Electronic Military Health Records
In the current system there are separate groups, the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Defense. The Obama establishment wants to implement an electronic unified military. The system aims at reducing delays in medical treatment available. Since medical records can contain such important and helpful information, there are precedents maintained by even more hard work.
Each time you go to the doctor’s office, a record is made and notes taken. A full medical chart can help a doctor quickly get large amounts of information about you. With regulations to the privacy of patients, like HIPAA and HITECH, your personal information should not be shared with anyone.
Quality System Regulation and Good Manufacturing Practices
The quality system regulation includes requirements related to the methods used in the facilities and controls used for designing, manufacturing, packaging, purchasing, labeling, storing, and installing and servicing of medical devices. All manufacturing facilities undergo FDA inspection to make sure that the quality is compliant.
Labeling
Labels must be put on the device as well as a descriptive and informational literature to accompany the device. This helps patients get an idea of what they are about to use and informs of any important things that might be vital to the products use or the safety of the user.
Medical Device Reporting
Incidents where a device causes, or plays a part in, the death or serious injury of a patient has to be reported to the FDA under the Medical Device Reporting program, or MDR. Additionally, specific malfunctions that occur also need to be reported. Often, these malfunctions do not affect the reliability or effectiveness of a product, but must be reported nonetheless.
By setting rules that must be followed, and not allowing items that do not have FDA approval on the market, regulations help to keep the general public safe. Unsafe products do not get to the stores and the items that are on store shelves are proven to work, time and time again. Check out the FDA’s website for a large amount of information about the products that they control and regulate.