Agenda
• Sources for gathering information • Rights as a NYS Resident• Advance Directives• Your Medical information• Personal Health Records
Gathering Information
• The type and sources of information you gather can help in making informed decisions about doctors and health care facilities
• It can expose you to different treatment options available
• It can provide resources for managing chronic diseases and preventing new diseases
Gathering Information
Quality• Has your doctor ever been sued?– http://www.nydoctorprofile.com/
• Has your doctor ever been disciplined?– http://w3.health.state.ny.us/opmc/factions.nsf
Gathering Information (cont.)
• What is the Report Card of your hospital?– http://www.healthgrades.com/– http://www.myhealthfinder.com/– http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/hospital-se
arch.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
• Licensing Requirements– http://www.op.nysed.gov/
Gathering Information (cont.)
• Resources– NYS Resources• NYSDOH: http://www.health.state.ny.us/• NYS website: http://www.ny.gov/• http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtm
l
– Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)• http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/gu
ides-for-patients-and-consumers/
Gathering Information (cont.)• Joint Commission– Accreditation for healthcare, like Middle States for
colleges– 2011-2012 Safety Goals
– http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/npsgs.aspx
– Sentinel Events• Hospitals strive to limit these events• http://www.jointcommission.org/sentinel_event_statistics_
quarterly/
Your Rights
• NYS Resources– NYS Website: http://www.ny.gov/• Click on Health then Patient Rights• Patient Bill of Rights
– http://www.nyhealth.gov/professionals/patients/patient_rights/docs/english.pdf
• Rights as a hospital patient– http://www.nyhealth.gov/publications/1449.pdf
Advance Directives
• Living Will• Health Care Proxy Law• Do not Resuscitate (DNR)• Do not Intubate (DNI)
Living Will
• A written statement about a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment
• http://www.nysba.org/Content/NavigationMenu/PublicResources/LivingWillHealthCareProxyForms/Living_Will_and_Heal.htm
• http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2005/jan/jan31b_05.html
Health Care Proxy Law
• This law allows you to appoint a Health Care Agent
• This individual will make health related decisions if you are incapable of doing so– http://www.nyhealth.gov/professionals/patients/
health_care_proxy/index.htm– http://www.nyhealth.gov/forms/doh-1430.pdf
Health Care Agent
• Important topics to discuss include:– Donating organs– Do not Resuscitate (DNR) – Use of fluids or medication (e.g., morphine)– Pain management
• Be sure to provide a copy of the document to your primary care physician along with contact information for primary and secondary agent
Health Care Agent Vs. Living Will
• A living will allows a person to make their medical wishes known
• A health care agent makes medical decisions for an individual when he/she is unable to
• It is recommended that people have both documents
• http://www.nyc.gov/html/caregiver/legal_1b.html
DNR
• Do not resuscitate (DNR) means, for the patient in cardiac or respiratory arrest, NO chest compressions, ventilation, defibrillation, endotracheal intubation, or medications.
• http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ems/policy/99-10.htm
Additional Resources
• http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/health_care/pdfs/EOLGUIDE012605.pdf
Whatever you decide . . .
• Inform your doctors, family members, lawyers• Make copies for everyone• Be sure to include contact information
Your Information
• You own your medical information but the facility owns the media it is contained on (e.g., paper, Electronic Health Record)
• You can request your information – http://www.nyhealth.gov/publications/1443/
• Requesting sensitive information may have additional requirements
Your Information (Cont).
• You have access to your information• You can request copies but may be charged a
maximum of .75 in New York State• You cannot be denied copies if you cannot pay• You can request corrections to your
information, but it can be denied• http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/under
standing/consumers/medicalrecords.html
Your Information HIPAA
• Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)– You are asked to sign you have received the NPP
each time you visit a doctor– Very few people read it or are given an
explanationhttp://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/
understanding/summary/privacysummary.pdf
Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)
The notice must describe:•How the covered entity uses and discloses protected health information and that the entity will get your permission, or authorization, before using your health records for any other reason•The covered entity’s duties to protect health information privacy
NPP (Cont.)
• Your privacy rights, including the right to complain to HHS and to the covered entity if you believe your privacy rights have been violated
• How to contact the entity for more information and to make a complaint
Your Information HITECH Act
• Breach Notification Requirements– Individual notice: contact via phone, email, or
mail; if more than 10 individuals, the entity must post on their website, major print, or broadcast media
– Media notice: if more than 500 individuals are impacted, the entity must utilize media outlets serving the state as well as contacting the individuals
Your Information HITECH Act (Cont.)
• Notice to the Secretary– If a breach occurs of >500 individuals, the entity
must notify the secretary to HHS; if <500, the entity can notify the secretary on an annual basis
• Business association (BA)– If a breach occurs the BA must notify the entity
within 60 dayshttp://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/
administrative/breachnotificationrule/index.html
Power of Your Medical Information
• When utilized appropriately, our medical information justifies medication, treatment, and other healthcare services
• Identity theft via the social security number• Medical identity theft– A person uses someone else’s insurance
information for healthcare services
Power of Your Medical Information (Cont).
• Medical identity theft– The fastest growing form of identity theft– 1.4 million have been victimized by medical
identity thefthttp://www.insurancefraud.org/
medicalidentitytheft.htm
Personal Health Records (PHR)
• A tool to collect, track and share past and current information about your health or the health of someone in your care
• You determine the information to be collected and shared
• You determine the method for collecting the information
Content of PHR
• Blood type and emergency contact• Dates and results of tests and screenings• Major illnesses and surgeries, with dates• A list of your medicines, dosages and how
long you've taken them• Allergies• Chronic diseases • History of illnesses in your family
Benefits
The type of PHR will determine the benefits but generally:•Your medical information is preserved•You can communicate with your physician via the internet and manage chronic diseases•Viewing of statements, test results•Access to your information at all times
Additional Resources
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/personalhealthrecords.html
• http://www.myphr.com/• http://www.myphr.com/resources/
choose.aspx• http://www.organizedrecords.com/
mypromedical_quicktour.asp• http://www.ahrq.gov/
questionsaretheanswer/