Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
HIPAA 101 A simple question doesn’t always have a simple answer. “Why did my friend go to the hospital?” seems to be a simple question, but the answer is blocked by a federal law. While most think of the law as the protector of medical records, privacy isn’t even in its name.
We call it HIPAA (pronounced HIP-pah), but the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 also has been known as the Kassebaum-Kennedy Act or Kennedy-Kassebaum Act. Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum, R-Kan., was a leading sponsor of the bill, along with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. The official explanation is: “An Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, to promote the use of medical savings accounts, to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes.” The main intent was that the health industry would save money by computerizing paper records. That led to concerns over privacy, which led to new privacy regulations. HIPPA, continued on page 2
January 2015
Positive PATH® Unruh returns from PATH stay feeling better than ever When Helma Unruh needed to recuperate from a visit to the hospital last fall, she was able to do it very close to home. Unruh chose the Post-Acute to Home (PATH®) Program at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor for her rehabilitation from treatment for an infection. In Helma Unruh the PATH program, patients receive skilled therapy and skilled nursing services under the supervision of a physician and registered nurse. The team of doctors, nurses, therapists, and social workers tailor individual programs to meet each patient’s personal and medical needs. Regular family conferences are held to expedite recovery and aid the transition to home. Unruh has lived in her apartment at Presbyterian Manor for about five years, and she said it was helpful to complete her therapy where she already knows so many people. “Everyone was good, kind, and very patient, even during my therapy,” Unruh said. “Even on hard days, they were still so encouraging.” The PATH therapists did more than focus on the reason she came for rehabilitation, however. Unruh said the staff noticed she was struggling with asthma and breathing problems, and so they gave her new treatments to help get those issues under control, too. In November, Unruh returned to her apartment feeling great. “This is best I have felt in a long time,” she said. PATH acts as a bridge between hospital and home by helping patients overcome the challenges of recovering from an injury, illness or surgery. The program is open to those on Medicare, with a doctor’s referral. Services include: • Physical therapy. • Occupational therapy. • Speech therapy. • Professionally prepared meals, and always-available beverages and snacks. • Social services to support post-discharge needs. • Full outcomes assessment detailing achieved goals.
HIPPA, continued from page 1
Protected Health Information
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Protected Health Information, called PHI, is any information about a person’s health status, any health services provided to the person and any payment specifics about those services. Details of your medical record may not be shared without your consent. That’s one reason there are so many forms to sign at the doctor’s office; they must have your consent to process your visit for billing, insurance purposes, etc.
and enter your email address in the blue box on the right. It’s That is also why it is so difficult to obtain information about friends in that easy!
the hospital. It is subject to strict HIPAA regulations. Violations result in expensive fines, and health care workers are required to receive training on how to keep all medical information safe.
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Sarah Griggs, executive director Tara Clawson, marketing director Lori Peters, activities director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact tclawson@pmma.org. Telephone: 620-442-8700 Fax: 620-442-8224 Address: 1711 N. Fourth, Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607
Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
ArkansasCityPresbyterianManor.org
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Some key privacy points: • When your health information is shared, only the minimum necessary should be disclosed. • Health information is to be used only for health purposes. Without your consent, it can’t be used to help banks decide whether to give you a loan or by potential employers to decide whether to give you a job. • If someone wants to share your health information, you have to give your formal consent. • You can ask for copies of all this information and make appropriate changes to it.You also can ask for a history of any unusual disclosures. • Your health care provider and insurance company must explain how they’ll use and disclose health information. (Information from WebMD.)
Retirement community regulations Retirement communities that provide state-licensed services, such as assisted living and health care, must abide by the strict privacy regulations. Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America employees receive training and updates regularly. Vendors also are trained to ensure resident privacy is maintained. PMMA employees know they are not to chat about residents in the hallways – or anywhere – because that violates their privacy protections. The privacy laws are why health care staff can’t talk to other residents about the people in their care. It’s not that they are being unhelpful or that they don’t care about your feelings. They are required to keep the information confidential. Another key component of the privacy rules that affect health care residents is that the “information” may not be linked to an individual. In the rules, “information” includes photos of faces. That’s why we ask residents to sign consent forms when we take pictures for our newsletters, web sites and other marketing purposes. Family concerns Information from AARP explains that health care staff can discuss conditions and treatments with family members, but you must give written permission for your loved ones to see your official medical records. Older adults may have their adult children sign a letter or form designating them as a personal representative. This will give the health care providers the coverage they require to avoid HIPAA violations, according to AARP.
PMMA’s focus turns to the future in the 1990s This month, we continue to look back at our history as Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America celebrates 65 years of the art of life. In 1990, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America moved into a new corporate office building in northeast Wichita, and Manor of the Plains in Dodge City opened.
was donated by American States Insurance Company. Construction began in December 1992. Jane O’Bryan was named the first administrator.
That year, the “Tradition of Caring” capital campaign also kicked off with a goal of $6.4 million. The first leg of the campaign was conducted in Emporia, where $600,000 was raised. Each campus had its own campaign to raise funds toward the $6.4 million goal. The campaigns raised funds to meet current Good Samaritan Program needs and provide a future endowment for Good Samaritan needs, assist in covering debt service and provide capital improvements at PMMA campuses.
Also in 1992, four Presbyterian Manor campuses—Wichita, Newton, Salina and Lawrence—received recognitions from the Kansas Association of Homes for the Aging. Wichita Presbyterian Manor won the Excellence in Service and the Recognition awards. The service award recognized Wichita’s ethics committee, which led to the campus working to become “restraint free” before the movement became popular around the country. Lawrence and Salina also received recognition awards, which signify high marks in the Department of Health and Environment’s annual survey of Kansas nursing facilities. Newton received the Innovation of the Year Award for the Apple-A-Day preschool, which opened in January 1992.
Local volunteers in Fort Scott, Kansas, led efforts to raise funds for a new retirement complex. The “Time to Secure the Future” campaign set out to raise $500,000 in base contributions toward the construction of a 40-unit residential complex in Fort Scott. The land
In July 1993, Dr. Mary Carman
A rendering of PMMA’s Fort Scott campus before construction began in 1992.
A 1992 groundbreaking ceremony for Fort Scott Presbyterian Village.
became chairperson of the PMMA board of trustees. Carman, who served on the advisory council at Newton in the 1980s, was a professional psychologist on staff at Prairie View. She was instrumental in the creation of one of the first special care units for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia at the Newton Presbyterian Manor campus.
Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor calls for Art is Ageless® entries Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held March 9-12, 2015. Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2016 Art is Ageless calendar. The Art is Ageless® Program encourages Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity. “We’re expecting
this to be another great year,” said Tara Clawson, marketing director. Local competition winners will join winners at 17 other Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities to be judged systemwide. Entry forms can be picked up at Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor, 1711 N. Fourth, or by contacting Clawson at 620-442-8700 or tclawson@pmma.org or visiting ArtIsAgeless.org. Works need to be at Presbyterian Manor by March 4, 2015. 3
Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor 1711 N. Fourth Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607 Return Service Requested
January birthdays 4 Mary “Elaine” Gilstrap 8
Laura Morris
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Lowell Smith
11 Delores Metz
Devotion: Keep your footing By Wayne Rector, Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor resident
After bouts with snow and ice bringing sad news of traffic accidents and falls producing painful injuries, it also brought forth some good advice on how to prevent accidents in that kind of weather. Precautions such as, “if you don’t have to go out, stay inside,” and “if you do have to go out wear shoes with a tread on the sole so as to ensure good footing.”
Wayne Rector
In our walk with the Lord, it is equally important that we have “good footing” with God. Whether it’s fair weather or foul, God has promised “never to leave us nor forsake us.” Hebrew 13:5. But sometimes he seems far away. In that case, guess who moved? We did.
When that happens, we need to only recall some of the precious promises given to us in the Bible. 1 John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Elsewhere, Jesus tells us to come unto Him and he will give us rest, and “the one who comes to me I will in no way cast out,” John 6:37. Thus, we are sure-footed and sage in the arms of Jesus. 4
12 Ann Molina 17 Edrea Cooke 18 Virginia Wykes 26 Bessie Kreipe 28 Daisy Munson
Eva Beeks
Glendoris Williams
30 Rogene Groene
William “Bill” Poling