IB
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. J. RES. 421
Designating the week of November 6, 1994, through November 12, 1994,
‘‘National Health Information Management Week’’.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 30, 1994
Mr. MURPHY introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service
JOINT RESOLUTION
Designating the week of November 6, 1994, through Novem-
ber 12, 1994, ‘‘National Health Information Manage-
ment Week’’.
Whereas accurate, timely, and complete medical records and
related health information play a vital role in planning
and providing quality health care for the citizens of the
United States, beginning at birth and continuing
throughout their lives;
Whereas there is an escalating public concern about the qual-
ity, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health care,
and, to provide public accountability, specific skills in
evaluating and reporting the results of that care are re-
quired;
•HJ 421 IH
Whereas equitable third-party reimbursement for heath 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 sys-
tems, controlling comprehensive databases, managing
computer networks and related technology while regulat-
ing 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 contem-
porary 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 informa-
tion leaders, with demonstrated commitment to and ex-
pertise in health information management, including bal-
ancing patients’ rights and confidentiality of health infor-
mation with legitimate uses of data, serving as an advo-
cate for the patients’ right to access their own records,
preserving the confidentiality and security of patient
data, valuing the quality of health information as evi-
denced by its integrity, accuracy, consistency, reliability,
and validity, valuing the quality of health information as
•HJ 421 IH
evidenced by its impact on the quality of health care de-
livery, investigating and applying new technology to ad-
vance the management of health information, and devel-
oping 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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