Description: You Will Create This Assignment Following The A

Descriptionyou Will Create This Assignment Following The Assignment De

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In your interview for the chief information officer (CIO) position, you did exceptionally well and were hired by St. Augustine’s hospital. In a staff meeting, you were asked to give a presentation to other employees with the hope of getting volunteers to work with you in setting up the new health care IT department.

Address the following issues in your presentation: Explain the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on the implementation and use of health care information systems. Discuss the threats to the implementation and use of health care information systems and how these threats are overcome. Explain what happens if these threats are not alleviated. Describe professional credentialing. Discuss the importance of credentialing to HIT professionals. Explain the various areas of professional credentialing for health care professionals in IT. Describe how credentialing helps in achieving quality care. Explain the benefits of having a health care IT department at St. Augustine’s hospital. Use the following template: Unit 2 Assignment Deliverable Requirements : Prepare a PowerPoint presentation for this meeting. Your PowerPoint must contain at least 15 slides (excluding the title slide and agenda) and make sure to cite your references using APA format. Submitting your assignment in APA format means, at a minimum, you will need the following: Title slide: Remember the running head. The title should be in all capitals. Length: 15 slides minimum Body slides: This begins on the slide following the title slide and must be double-spaced (be careful not to triple- or quadruple-space between paragraphs). The typeface should be 12-pt. Times Roman or 12-pt. Courier in regular black type. Do not use color, bold type, or italics, except as required for APA-level headings and references. The deliverable length of the body of your presentation for this assignment is 15 slides. In-body academic citations to support your decisions and analysis are required. A variety of academic sources is encouraged. Reference slide: References that align with your in-body academic sources are listed on the final slide of your presentation. The references must be in APA format using appropriate spacing, hanging indent, italics, and uppercase and lowercase usage as appropriate for the type of resource used. Remember, the Reference slide is not a bibliography but a further listing of the abbreviated in-body citations used in the paper. Every referenced item must have a corresponding in-body citation. Please submit your assignment. For assistance with your assignment, please use your text, Web resources, and all course materials. Grading Rubric: Maximum 175 Points

Paper For Above instruction

The establishment of a robust healthcare information technology (IT) department is critical for modern hospitals such as St. Augustine’s, especially in the context of evolving federal policies and regulations. As the newly appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO), my presentation aims to provide staff with a comprehensive understanding of how federal laws impact health IT, the importance of credentialing for professionals, and the benefits of a dedicated health IT department.

Firstly, federal legislation such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) have significantly influenced the development and utilization of healthcare information systems. ARRA, enacted in 2009, allocated substantial funding to incentivize the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and promote meaningful use of health information technology (Blumenthal, 2010). The HITECH Act, a component of ARRA, strengthened HIPAA's privacy and security rules while expanding EHR adoption efforts (HHS, 2010). HIPAA, established in 1996, set the legal framework for protecting patient health information, emphasizing confidentiality, data security, and patient privacy (Sittig & Singh, 2013).

The implementation of these laws has improved healthcare quality, safety, and efficiency but has also introduced new threats, such as data breaches, unauthorized access, and cyberattacks. These threats are mitigated through robust security measures, staff training, continuous monitoring, and compliance with regulations (Kumar et al., 2016). Failure to adequately address cybersecurity threats can lead to severe consequences, including legal penalties, loss of patient trust, and compromised patient safety.

Professional credentialing is an essential aspect, ensuring that health IT professionals possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and ethical standards to perform their roles effectively. Credentialing enhances the quality of healthcare delivery by promoting qualified professionals who can manage health information systems securely and efficiently. Various credentialing areas include certifications such as Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS), Certified Healthcare Technology Professional (CHTP), and certifications in cybersecurity like Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). These credentials serve as indicators of expertise and commitment to quality care (HIMSS, 2020).

Credentialing also plays a vital role in maintaining standards within the healthcare environment, fostering trust among patients and staff, and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. For St. Augustine’s hospital, establishing a skilled IT department supported by credentialed professionals translates to better system management, data integrity, and ultimately improved patient outcomes. The presence of such a department ensures that technology investments are effectively managed and risks are minimized.

In conclusion, federal policies have profoundly shaped healthcare IT practices, emphasizing privacy, security, and meaningful technology adoption. Overcoming threats through credentialed professionals and robust security measures is crucial, as failure to do so jeopardizes patient safety and organizational integrity. Establishing a dedicated healthcare IT department at St. Augustine’s will facilitate compliance, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the quality of patient care, positioning the hospital for future technological advancements.

References

  • Blumenthal, D. (2010). Launching HITECH. New England Journal of Medicine, 362(5), 382-385.
  • HHS. (2010). HITECH Act. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/hitech-act/index.html
  • HIMSS. (2020). Professional Credentialing in Health IT. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. https://www.himss.org/resources/credentialing-health-it
  • Kumar, S., Preetha, G. S., & Rajendran, S. (2016). Cybersecurity challenges in healthcare: A review. Biomed Research International, 2016, 1-10.
  • Sittig, D. F., & Singh, H. (2013). Protecting privacy and security of electronic health information. Healthcare, 1(3), 190–192.
  • Additional scholarly sources relevant to health IT legislation, credentialing, and security practices can be incorporated to meet research robustness.