How Health Information Technology Helps Family Caregivers

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Health Information Technology (HIT) assists family caregivers to organize care for their child with special needs.  Find out what HIT is, how it works, and the pros/cons of consent. 

Defining HIT 

In a nutshell, health information technology means to use health information in an electronic form on the computer/flash drive, app., etc.  Doctors can use HIT to prescribe medications, share information with other physicians and hospitals etc.  Families may be able to set appointments and store information.  Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are medical records available online to doctors, or through patient portals that families can access.

Source http://www.intelichart.com/blog/himss-report-on-patient-engagement-highlights-patient-portals

 

Why using HIT is important 

HIT can share information between doctors, and also between doctors and families.  This is especially important for children who need complex care.  Complex medical care means that one condition, or medication, could affect others.  Tracking healthcare by using HIT also means the child may not have to go through the same test or procedure twice.  It is essential that family caregivers make sure that the information is correct, or ask for a correction, so everyone has the same information.  Please note that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) contains protections to avoid unauthorized access to private health information.

                                                                   Photo www.bocatc.org      

 

 

Consent-Pros & Cons 

Family caregivers should know that they must agree whether or not to share medical information.  It is important that all doctors have access to needed information.  But at times only part of a record is needed by certain providers, like a school nurse.  Family caregivers can decide to share with one doctor or a health “system” such as a hospital or clinic, particularly if they see a different doctor each time.  Also family caregivers can withdraw consent at any time.  Parents can also “opt out” from sharing information from the start.  They need to remember, though, if something happens and a patient can’t communicate, having an EHR will help.   

 

HIT has been shown to reduce medication errors, medical errors, and result in better outcomes.  Having all of a child’s health information in one place helps coordinate care.  Most importantly, this results in better overall healthcare for children with disabilities. 

 

 Resources:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – how information is protected

www.dlc-ma.org/Resources/Health/HEA%2013%20HIPAA_healthrecords_HHS.pdf

 

Health Information Technology Tools & Resources

www.healthit.gov/patients-families/tools-resources

 

The Office of Civil Rights “Your Health Information Privacy Rights” www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/consumer_rights.pdf

Spanish www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/privacy-rights-20130204-spn.pdf

 

 

 

 

Healthcare.gov - tips on preventing fraud

www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-fraud-in-the-health-insurance-marketplace/

Spanish www.cuidadodesalud.gov/es/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-fraud-in-the-health-insurance-marketplace/

 

 

 

Statewide Parent Advocacy factsheet

http://www.spanadvocacy.org/content/health-information-technology-fact-sheet

 

 

Remain Hopeful,

 

Lauren   

 

Lauren Agoratus is a parent/advocate who works for the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network and serves as the NJ Coordinator for Family Voices (www.spanadvocacy.org), a national network that works to “keep families at the center of children’s healthcare” at www.familyvoices.org or FB www.facebook.com/pages/Family-Voices-Inc-National/137783182902269.  She also serves as NJ representative supporting caregivers across the lifespan for the Caregiver Action Network (formerly National Family Caregivers Association) in a volunteer capacity at http://caregiveraction.org/ or FB www.facebook.com/CaregiverActionNetwork.