’s
August 23, 2013 edition
The Pulse
Your regular check up on SCKMC activities Share your thoughts, story ideas, and comments by e-mail to claytonp@sckrmc.org.
Healthy Living:
Focus on Quality: Privacy Matters
Obesity Rates Among U.S. Children
- Jane L. Campbell, Director of Quality Safeguarding our patients’ privacy is important, especially in a small community where our patients are our friends, neighbors, and family members. Remember, our patients’ right to privacy is guaranteed by federal law – and there are significant civil and criminal penalties for violations. Protected Health Information (PHI) includes individually identifiable information about a past, present, or future physical or mental condition, provision of care, or payment for care, and may exist in any form or medium – oral, written, or electronic. Health information is considered individually identifiable if any one item could identify the patient: name, address, phone or fax number, names of relatives or employers, birthdate, e-mail address, or any other unique identifier or characteristic. That means if I disclose PHI on the “chubby man with the fluffy white beard who lives at the North Pole”, I have violated Santa’s rights under HIPAA! PHI may be used and disclosed for three reasons only: treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. And even these disclosures are governed by the “minimum necessary rule”, which means limiting your access, use, or disclosure of PHI to the minimum necessary to do your job. If you have any doubt that a disclosure may not meet this requirement, do NOT disclose the information without discussing it with the Privacy Officer, Patricia McMains or Jane Campbell, Risk Manager. Safeguarding our patients’ privacy is the responsibility of every staff member, and the penalties for failing to do so are high. How can you avoid violating our patients’ right to privacy? • Discuss PHI only in private areas. Do not discuss PHI in the cafeteria, hallway, lobby, or other public areas. • Do not access the PHI of family members, friends, or other persons for non-work related purposes, even if you have their permission. Remember, you may view PHI only if it is necessary to do your work here. • If you work here and at another healthcare facility, do not disclose PHI about our patients, even if they are also patients at the other facility. • Verify the caller’s identity, as well as their right to receive information, before providing any PHI over the phone. • Discard documents containing patient information only in shredder containers. • Store passwords in secure areas, and do not share your passwords with anyone. • Lower your voice when conversing about patient. Remember, sound carries very well here!
Healthy People 2010 identified obesity as one of ten leading health indicators and called for a reduction in the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese, but the United States has made little progress toward the target goal. • •
Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.
Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to classify obesity among adults, and is also recommended in children. Based on current recommendations of expert committees, children with BMI values at or above the 95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI growth charts are categorized as obese. Although this cutpoint is not diagnostic, elevated BMI among children indicates increased risk for future adverse health outcomes or development of disease. For more information on this topic visit www.cdc.gov.
Mora Completes MLT Congratulations to Tara Mora for successfully completing the Seward County Community College MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician) program and certification exam. The two-year program included clinical training here at the South Central Kansas Medical Center Laboratory. Tara has worked at SCKMC since November 2008 as a Laboratory Aide/Phlebotomist. She is now qualified to perform and report testing in all areas of the Laboratory. (Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Blood Bank, Urinalysis, Microbiology, Immunology) We are very proud of her!
ur New Surgical Procedures May Require a Closer Look. Actual Incision Size*
Our surgeons’ specialized training in arthroscopic and laparoscopic procedures mean your surgery can have smaller incisions with less scarring, shorter stays in the hospital or same day release, and more precise results.
Dr. Christopher Siwek – Orthopedic Surgery
Racquel Szabo – Physician’s Assistant Dr. Tyson Blatchford – General Surgery
Dr. Perry Lin – OB/GYN
Our Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Procedures Include: •Acid reflux surgery •Complex hernia repair •Gallbladder
•Weight loss surgery •Appendectomy •Colorectal surgery
•Joint repair & carpal tunnel •Hysterectomy
For more information on this service contact us or schedule an appointment with your family physician. *Incision size will vary based upon each patient’s unique circumstances
Find out more about our services at www.sckmc.org