Joint Commission is the body that is recognized nationally for ensuring high standards of health care safety and quality are in place. An organization which is accredited by Joint commission is able to reap the following benefits. One, Joint Commission accreditation mean the health facility will be able to attract more patients. This is because they will be assured of safe and quality care. Patients confidence is strengthened by Joint Commission accreditation (Joint Commission, n.d.).
Two, Joint Commission certification enables health facility to be able to join government funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid. It also helps the organization to be accepted by health insurance providers. This is because these entities are assured that the people enrolled to their programs will get quality care. Three, a health facility is able to attract the best health professionals which result to high quality of care being given (Joint Commission, n.d.). This is because best minds in the health sector look forward to work in accredited health facilities.
Lastly, Joint Commission accreditation helps a health care organization to have a position in the community. This is because communities are aware that an accredited facility is able to provide quality care. That is why we have health facilities that are giants in a given community.
Difference between licensing and accreditation
Licensing deals with ensuring health care professionals meets the requirements of their profession. This is done by a recognized Federal or State government agency with an aim of ensuring health professionals meet profession or state approved quality standards. Also, patients are able to know that the professional handling them is qualified and is able to give them the care they need. For example, United State Medical Licensing Examination is used to determine if one can practice medicine in in United States. Each profession or industry has its own board that issue license to qualified personnel (SCI Administrator, 2020).
On the other hand, accreditation deals with the health facility. The accreditation certification is for acknowledging that a health facility has met the required standards. This certification is issued by entities in health care sector that are not affiliated with Federal or State government. For example, Joint Commission certification that is used to show a health facility has met certain standards, its unique from its competitors and it is commitment to continually improve the services offered (SCI Administrator, 2020).
Difference between privacy, confidentiality, and security in the healthcare setting
Privacy in a health care setting is complex. Patient data is not supposed to be accessed without patient permission. But, the same information can be accessed by medical professionals without patient permission when diagnosing the patient, claiming payment and for other administrative purposes (Harman, 2021).
Confidentiality in a health care means controlled access, protection from unauthorized access, modification and destruction of medical data of a given patient. This means only the patient and or his or her chosen person can access the patient health data. But, this information can be shared in a health ecosystem. For example, patient data can be shared between a health facility and health insurance provider. Also, health care facilities or professionals are not allowed to modify or destroy the patient data. This is because the patient health data form the medical history (National Academy of Sciences, n.d.).
Security in health care setting is not only about how secure a facility is. It also incorporates the security of the patient’s data in the facility systems. This means the facility hardware and software’s are secured from unauthorized access that can lead to disclosure of patient data. These includes granting users access to patient data they need in their roles and assigning user passwords (National Academy of Sciences, n.d.). Physical security includes ensuring destruction of papers with patient data, personnel control and disaster preparedness measures that are secure.
The importance of PHI and the function of the HIPAA Privacy rule
PHI refers to protected health information of a patient. This information consists patient demographic, medical history, mental health conditions, tests and lab results, insurance information and any other data that is used to identify a patient. HIPPA privacy rule provides Federal protections to PHI. But, the rule also gives allowances of when and why the PHI should be disclosed. For example, in providing the patient care (HHS.gov, 2013).
Importance of patients knowing their health information will not be shared without the Authorization for Release of Information.
Patients are able to build confidence with a health facility. This is important when one is seeking care that can result to discrimination (Maryville University, n.d.). Think of a patient with existing conditions that require regular medication. For example, a patient who require cancer therapies. Such a patient if his or her information is exposed, he or she can be denied employment opportunity due to huge cost associated with cancer therapies. No organization would be willing to have such an employee. Also, patients are assured health insurance providers will not exploit them with high premiums because of their conditions.
The importance of ethics and ethical behavior in healthcare
Issues of ethics are very common in health care setting. Being ethical is important in that patients are able to have confidence with the facility and its professionals. A facility that is involved in malpractices like altering medical records illegally, overcharging, using unqualified personnel, among others is likely to scare patients. Who can seek care in a facility that exploits patients? Two, ethical behavior is important for the growth of a facility. This is because unethical behavior can make an organization to collapse. Also, health providers cannot do business with a facility that engages in unethical behavior (Chron Contributor, 2020). For example, insurance providers and the government can decline reimbursements of services provided if the facility is accused of malpractices. It can also lead to expensive lawsuits.
Risk management and why it is important in healthcare
Risks in healthcare can affect an organization reputation and performance, and more importantly it can damage a patient health. Therefore, risk management is important in that it helps reduce medical errors. For example, ensuring the facility is clean and health professionals use hand sanitizers can reduce infection rates in the facility. Some of the measures that can reduce risks include use of efficient cybersecurity system to safeguard patient data, restricting public access to certain places in the facility, ensuring walkways are safe among other measures ( Maryville University, n.d.).
Two, Joint Commission certification enables health facility to be able to join government funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid. It also helps the organization to be accepted by health insurance providers. This is because these entities are assured that the people enrolled to their programs will get quality care. Three, a health facility is able to attract the best health professionals which result to high quality of care being given (Joint Commission, n.d.). This is because best minds in the health sector look forward to work in accredited health facilities.
Lastly, Joint Commission accreditation helps a health care organization to have a position in the community. This is because communities are aware that an accredited facility is able to provide quality care. That is why we have health facilities that are giants in a given community.
Difference between licensing and accreditation
Licensing deals with ensuring health care professionals meets the requirements of their profession. This is done by a recognized Federal or State government agency with an aim of ensuring health professionals meet profession or state approved quality standards. Also, patients are able to know that the professional handling them is qualified and is able to give them the care they need. For example, United State Medical Licensing Examination is used to determine if one can practice medicine in in United States. Each profession or industry has its own board that issue license to qualified personnel (SCI Administrator, 2020).
On the other hand, accreditation deals with the health facility. The accreditation certification is for acknowledging that a health facility has met the required standards. This certification is issued by entities in health care sector that are not affiliated with Federal or State government. For example, Joint Commission certification that is used to show a health facility has met certain standards, its unique from its competitors and it is commitment to continually improve the services offered (SCI Administrator, 2020).
Difference between privacy, confidentiality, and security in the healthcare setting
Privacy in a health care setting is complex. Patient data is not supposed to be accessed without patient permission. But, the same information can be accessed by medical professionals without patient permission when diagnosing the patient, claiming payment and for other administrative purposes (Harman, 2021).
Confidentiality in a health care means controlled access, protection from unauthorized access, modification and destruction of medical data of a given patient. This means only the patient and or his or her chosen person can access the patient health data. But, this information can be shared in a health ecosystem. For example, patient data can be shared between a health facility and health insurance provider. Also, health care facilities or professionals are not allowed to modify or destroy the patient data. This is because the patient health data form the medical history (National Academy of Sciences, n.d.).
Security in health care setting is not only about how secure a facility is. It also incorporates the security of the patient’s data in the facility systems. This means the facility hardware and software’s are secured from unauthorized access that can lead to disclosure of patient data. These includes granting users access to patient data they need in their roles and assigning user passwords (National Academy of Sciences, n.d.). Physical security includes ensuring destruction of papers with patient data, personnel control and disaster preparedness measures that are secure.
The importance of PHI and the function of the HIPAA Privacy rule
PHI refers to protected health information of a patient. This information consists patient demographic, medical history, mental health conditions, tests and lab results, insurance information and any other data that is used to identify a patient. HIPPA privacy rule provides Federal protections to PHI. But, the rule also gives allowances of when and why the PHI should be disclosed. For example, in providing the patient care (HHS.gov, 2013).
Importance of patients knowing their health information will not be shared without the Authorization for Release of Information.
Patients are able to build confidence with a health facility. This is important when one is seeking care that can result to discrimination (Maryville University, n.d.). Think of a patient with existing conditions that require regular medication. For example, a patient who require cancer therapies. Such a patient if his or her information is exposed, he or she can be denied employment opportunity due to huge cost associated with cancer therapies. No organization would be willing to have such an employee. Also, patients are assured health insurance providers will not exploit them with high premiums because of their conditions.
The importance of ethics and ethical behavior in healthcare
Issues of ethics are very common in health care setting. Being ethical is important in that patients are able to have confidence with the facility and its professionals. A facility that is involved in malpractices like altering medical records illegally, overcharging, using unqualified personnel, among others is likely to scare patients. Who can seek care in a facility that exploits patients? Two, ethical behavior is important for the growth of a facility. This is because unethical behavior can make an organization to collapse. Also, health providers cannot do business with a facility that engages in unethical behavior (Chron Contributor, 2020). For example, insurance providers and the government can decline reimbursements of services provided if the facility is accused of malpractices. It can also lead to expensive lawsuits.
Risk management and why it is important in healthcare
Risks in healthcare can affect an organization reputation and performance, and more importantly it can damage a patient health. Therefore, risk management is important in that it helps reduce medical errors. For example, ensuring the facility is clean and health professionals use hand sanitizers can reduce infection rates in the facility. Some of the measures that can reduce risks include use of efficient cybersecurity system to safeguard patient data, restricting public access to certain places in the facility, ensuring walkways are safe among other measures ( Maryville University, n.d.).
