[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT WEEK

  The text of the joint resolution (S. J. Res. 208) to designate the 
week of November 6, 1994, through November 12, 1994, as ``National 
Health Information Management Week'', as passed by the Senate on 
October 6, 1994, is as follows:

                             S.J. Res. 208

       Whereas accurate, timely, and complete medical records and 
     related health information play a vital role in planning and 
     providing quality health car for the citizens of the United 
     States, beginning at birth and continuing throughout their 
     lives;
       Whereas there is an escalating public concern about the 
     quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health care, 
     and, to provide public accountability, specific skills in 
     evaluating and reporting the results of that care are 
     required;
       Whereas equitable third-party reimbursement for health care 
     is dependent upon health information that is collected, 
     analyzed, classified, verified, and disseminated;
       Whereas computer technology is changing the character of 
     health information, requiring proficiency in designing 
     systems, controlling comprehensive database, managing 
     computer networks and related technology while regulating 
     access to the data, and maintaining the security and 
     confidentiality of individual patient information;
       Whereas there is an increasing public awareness of patient 
     rights including the right of patients to access their own 
     medical information;
       Whereas protecting the confidentiality of patient-
     identifiable health data is an important consideration in the 
     contemporary health care environment;
       Whereas the health care industry's needs, requirements, and 
     use of health information is changing rapidly, and the rate 
     of change will continue to escalate in the future as new 
     technology is utilized and new health care reform policies 
     are promulgated; and
       Whereas the members of the American Health Information 
     Management Association are America's health information 
     leaders, with demonstrated commitment to and expertise in 
     health information management, including balancing patients' 
     rights and confidentiality of health information with 
     legitimate uses of data, serving as an advocate for the 
     patients' right to access their own records, preserving the 
     confidentiality and security of patient data, valuing the 
     quality of health information as evidenced by its integrity, 
     accuracy, consistency, reliability, and validity, valuing the 
     quality of health information as evidenced by its impact on 
     the quality of health care delivery, investigating and 
     applying new technology to advance the management of health 
     information, and developing the computer based-patient 
     record: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That the week 
     of November 6, 1994, through November 12, 1994, is designated 
     ``National Health Information Management Week'', and the 
     President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the citizens of the United States to observe 
     that week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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