The Course Project paper consists of a research paper focusing on quality or risk scenarios. It is recommended that you work with a local area healthcare facility for your paper-related research, in addition to your Internet and textbook research. Plan to interview an HIM and an HIT professional and, if possible, observe his or her job functions related to healthcare quality and compliance.
Milestones—Requirements
Identify three scenarios that put a hospital at risk for financial liability, and identify how that risk might be minimized.
Describe one scenario related to patient safety.
Describe one scenario related to the environmental safety.
Describe one scenario related to staffing.
Describe how an HIM practitioner might serve as a clinical quality assessment resource and as a team member.
Perform a literature search to identify sources of accreditation and regulatory requirements for quality and risk management. Review the Joint Commission standards and identify the standards that pertain to quality and risk management.
Use case studies from local or regional healthcare organizations or arrange interviews or site visits.
Use examples of the types of healthcare organizations that may be appropriate subjects for this type of project, including hospitals, hospital systems, integrated healthcare systems, multi specialty medical clinics, physician group-practice offices, ambulatory surgical centers, mental health service providers, public health clinics, and rehabilitation or long-term care facilities.
Choose situations that are complex enough to offer sufficient challenge and are realistic, in terms of information available at a level needed to complete the project in the required time frame.
Avoid accessing any confidential patient information in order to complete the project; there is no need to, and it is appropriate to do so.
