Catherine J. Futch Raises the Bar on Privacy Issues · “something“ about how your clinic works. It just doesn’t happen that way. These new faces cause both the seasoned nurses

On December 26, 2000,the Department of Healthand Human Services (DHHS)issued its final regulation on“Privacy Standards forIndividually IdentifiableHealth Information.”

The regulation, whichwas published in the FederalRegister on February 28,2001, was the culmination ofan unprecedented number ofcomments from the businessand private sectors.

Under the CongressionalReview Act, members ofCongress have 60 days toreview a new regulationbefore it becomes final. Thisreview process helps assurethe intentions of the regula-tion and prevents an unantici-pated outcome.

Originally, the regulationwas effective February 26,2001 and the implementationdate was set for February 26,2003. But because the regula-tion was signed during theholiday period whileCongress was not in session,the February 26 effective datedid not allow for a full period of review. The effectivedate was extended to April 14, 2001 and the implemen-tation date extended to April 14, 2003.

July/August 2001 Volume 23 Number 4

Official Publication of theAmerican Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing

continued on page 8

Who is ProtectedThe final regulation pro-

vides for protection of the useand disclosure of protectedhealth information (PHI) bycovered entities. Coveredentities are health plans,health plan clearinghouses,and nearly all health careproviders. Any individual orgroup that provides care,pays for care, provides ser-vices, or in some way fur-nishes bills (receives pay-ment for health care services)is covered. Included are anumber of federal and stateprograms including MedicarePart A and Part B, Medicaid,and state risk pools(American Association ofHealth Plans, 2001).

In general, to be coveredunder the privacy regulationthe provider must transmithealth information electroni-cally either directly orthrough a third party like ahospital or billing service thattransmits claims or othertransactions electronically forthe provider.

Health care clearinghouses are covered entities thatreceive and convert (or have converted) informationfrom a non-standard to a standard format (meets theHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act[HIPAA] standards for electronic transmission of PHI).Included in the clearinghouse of covered entities arebilling companies, repricing services, and communityhealth information systems (American Association ofHealth Plans, 2001).

Use of Covered InformationProtected health information is defined as health

information that is individually identifiable and is trans-mitted in any form…verbal, written, or electronic. To be

Special FeaturesAAACN’s Launches NewLearning Portal . . . . . . . .3-5

AAACN Part ofPatient Outcomes Study . .6

2002 Keynote SpeakerA Trekkie’s Dream . . . . . .12

Also Inside

President’s Message . . . . .2

2002 Candidate Slate . . . 13

SIG and CommitteeReports . . . . . . . . . . . .13-15

Issue Highlights

www.aaacn.orgServing you on the Web

Catherine J. FutchFederal RegulationRaises the Bar on Privacy Issues

The final regulation provides forprotection of the use and disclosureof protected health information by

covered entities.

2July/August - 2001 - Volume 23 Number 4

National Office: (800) AMB-NURS • Web Site: www.aaacn.org

continued on page 11

AAACN ViewpointThe American Academy of AmbulatoryCare NursingEast Holly Avenue Box 56Pitman, NJ 08071-0056(856) 256-2350 • (800) AMB-NURSFax (856) [email protected]

AAACN Viewpoint is owned and publishedbimonthly by the American Academy ofAmbulatory Care Nursing (AAACN). The newslet-ter is distributed to members as a direct benefitof membership. First class postage paid atPitman, NJ, and additional mailing offices.

AdvertisingContact John R. Schmus, AdvertisingRepresentative, (856) 256-2315.

Back IssuesTo order, call (800) AMB-NURS or (856) 256-2350.

Editorial ContentTo send comments, questions, or article sugges-tions, or if you would like to write for us, contactEditor Rebecca Linn Pyle at [email protected]

AAACN Publications and ProductsTo order, call (800) AMB-NURS or (856) 256-2350, or visit our Web site: www.aaacn.org.

ReprintsFor permission to reprint an article, call (800)AMB-NURS or (856) 256-2350 or fax your requestto (856) 589-7463. Please include the title of thearticle, issue date, and the intended use of thereprint. The fee to photocopy items for internal orpersonal use, the internal or personal use of specif-ic clients, or for classroom purposes, will be deter-mined by AAACN. Permission to reprint is grantedafter this fee is paid.

SubscriptionsWe offer institutional subscriptions only. Thecost per year is $80 U.S., $100 outside U.S. Tosubscribe, call (800) AMB-NURS or (856) 256-2350.

IndexingAAACN Viewpoint is indexed in the CumulativeIndex to Nursing and Allied Health Literature(CINAHL).

© Copyright 2001 by AAACN. All rightsreserved. Reproduction in whole or part, elec-tronic or mechanical without written permis-sion of the publisher is prohibited. The opin-ions expressed in AAACN Viewpoint are thoseof the contributors, authors and/or advertis-ers, and do not necessarily reflect the views ofAAACN, AAACN Viewpoint, or its editorial staff.

Publication Management byAnthony J. Jannetti, Inc.

President's Message

Survive or Thrive?It’s that time again! The month of July, when all the

new interns and residents arrive on your workplacedoorstep! Did you survive the transition this year? If youare like me, you may be thinking, “here we go again“!And you are probably not quite over being highlyannoyed at the “missing small equipment” from theclinic drawers and cupboards.

Summer always brings some special challenges inthe health care workplace, especially around the issueof staffing. Generally, staff requests for time off, (andeveryone REALLY does need a vacation) plus the

expected and unexpected medical leaves and the nurse with wedding plans.Add to that the increased patient volumes and there is most likely more stressin everyone’s daily routine. And now we’ve got these new physicians ( I affec-tionately call them “baby docs”) who you wish would show up knowing“something“ about how your clinic works. It just doesn’t happen that way.

These new faces cause both the seasoned nurses and the novice physi-cians to think, “this is scary! “ and for nurses to often comment, “Don’t getsick in the month of July! “ You are afraid for the patients and the novices areafraid of the patients at this point. These thoughts and feelings are bound toreturn often in the coming weeks but we also know that given time and expe-rience, everything really does work out. I would like to offer you some ideas toease the stress during this transitional time.

Coach the TeamSo why should clinic nursing personnel even become involved in this

issue? By deciding to help “coach” these newest members about your clinic,you increase your ability to influence this group to becoming helpful (versusharmful) to daily operational flow. Technically, “in the letter of the law,” thenursing staff isn’t responsible for this process, but in the spirit of law – ofbeing part of the clinic team – it’s a smart way to work.

Therefore, do what you can to help the new people not only survive butthrive. This can yield big dividends because the simple truth is that pullingtogether works better. We’re all part of this team, doing the best we can everyday to delivery quality care. If you are identified as part of the informal or for-mal teaching team for them, you can definitely influence the outcomes.

The key to coaching others is to give information that is pragmatic andhelpful. It is moving toward promoting a culture of trust. For example, tellthem about the things that make the chief go crazy (they’ll be forever grateful).Show them where to find the equipment they need and how to clean it up onreturn. Be sure to assure them that they can begin that patient encounter –without nursing – when the hectic clinic schedule is running late. It’s calledteamwork and everyone is responsible for making it happen on a daily basis.

While I’m highlighting the residents and interns because they happen tobe the “orients“ of the month, in my opinion there needs to be more emphasison coaching/mentoring every individual who joins your clinic department. Ibelieve people want to do a good job in the workplace. Consider offering toreview with new front desk people what to do in an emergency or the impor-tance of certain telephone messages. Help create a kind of “safety net” thatsupports communication and dialogue among clinic employees.

Nurses know how to orient others to our department’s operations becausewe see the big picture of how things work. We do it all the time for our own;it’s organized and documented! (Would you expect anything less?) Clearly,

E. Mary Johnson

DISTANCE LEARNING has been referred to as the

Internet’s “second wave.” By 2002, analysts estimate that 2.5

million North Americans will receive continuing

education online. AAACN’s Web site www.aaacn.org

now offers members this cutting edge option.

to train anytime, anywhere, and at their own pace.• Relevance. Distance learning allows participants to

bypass unnecessary content and focus on those sec-tions of the course they have not yet mastered.

• Consistency. Instructor-led training does not alwaysguarantee that the same information or quality ofinstruction is provided to all participants. TrainingMagazine (December 2000, Volume 37) reported 50-60% of participants improved consistency using someform of online learning.

Buckle in and Get WiredAs our economy continues to change, professionals

will depend even more on education to gain the knowl-edge and skills neces-sary to succeed at workand at home. Peoplewill increasingly turn tothe Internet for informa-tion and guidance onhow to fulfill theircareer and personalgoals.

Distance learninghas been referred to asthe Internet’s “secondwave.” By 2002, ana-lysts estimate that 2.5million North Americans will receive continuing educa-tion online. The Internet offers training solutions that canbe customized to the individual’s knowledge, needs, learn-ing style, schedule, and experience.

AAACN’s Tailored ProgramsAAACN is on the cutting edge of this latest technolo-

gy. AAACN is making it easy for our members to get onlinecontinuing education through a unique partnership withDigiScript, Inc.™ The Knowledge ManagementCompany™ to digitally record content from selectedAAACN conferences and make them available online.Now AAACN members can access that information 24hours a day, 7 days a week and earn continuing educationcredits quickly and easily.

For more information, see pages 4 and 5 of this issueof Viewpoint. Make sure to visit the AAACN Web site atwww.aaacn.org to find out if online learning is right foryou and your organization.

Information provided by DigiScript, Inc.™ The KnowledgeManagement Company™ .

3 July/August - 2001 - Volume 23 Number 4


One of today’s realities is that knowl-edge is a continually moving target.Information that was considered currentjust 2 years ago is now, in many disci-

plines, considered hopelessly out-of-date.We have moved from the Industrial Age, to

the Information Age, to the Knowledge Age.The time period for which knowledge is

applicable and useful is decreasing while the vol-ume of knowledge being produced is increasing. Shorterbusiness cycles, the introduction of new technologies, andhigher turnover of employees are reasons why the rapidcapture and dissemination of knowledge is essential intoday’s economy. As a result, traditional business models,processes, and training requirements are being re-engi-neered to adjust to these shorter time frames.

Accelerated and ApplicableWhile some learning organizations may take tradition-

al classroom approaches, others are using the benefits ofdistance learning to meet corporate and organizationalobjectives.

As with any new technology, distance learning may bemet with skepticism from those who don’t have a clearunderstanding of its benefits. Companies and organizationscan use information as a competitive advantage by beingfirst to have access to that information. But that advantagedisappears quickly as the information becomes more wide-ly distributed. The key is not only having access to theinformation, but to rapidly turn the information intoknowledge and apply that knowledge to one’s personal lifeand professional practice.

For example, organizations expend great cost trainingtheir people. Distance learning eliminates the downtimeassociated with training off-site, accelerates the learningprocess, and increases the ability to train more people.According to Fortune magazine’s On-Line LearningSupplement (May 24, 1999, Volume 139, Number 10),companies experience a 40-60% cost savings when com-paring instructor-led education with technology-deliveredcourses. Thus, 92% of large organizations are implement-ing some form of online learning this year.

BenefitsDistance learning offers the participant several bene-

fits as well, such as: • Convenience. As more and more people struggle to

balance the demands of work and home, making timefor continuing professional education is becomingincreasingly difficult. Distance learning allows people

Distance

Learning

WiredtoLearn

"There has been moreinformation produced

in the last 30 yearsthan in the previous

5,000."– Price Prichett



AAACN is pleased to announce its partnershipwith DigiScript, Inc.™ The Knowledge ManagementCompany, to offer its education programs virtually—that is, you don’t need to leave home or your office toparticipate. With a computer, you can enjoy the edu-cation programs of your choice at anytime, anywhere,and economically!

How to access these programsYou have two options:1. A subscription to view the courses online for 1

year through www.aaacn.org.2. A subscription (#1 above) PLUS a CD-ROM version.

Computer specifications needed:Go to www.aaacn.org, click on Virtual Library,

then click on the “support” tab. The site will actually

test your system and make recommendations for anyneeded system upgrades/free software. Links are pro-vided for free software downloads. Specific questionsare also addressed by clicking on the “FAQ” tab.Online support is available from 8 am to 5 pm,Central. You will receive a response to your emailinquiries within 24 hours.

Computer software needed:◆ Internet Explorer 5.5 for PC users◆ Netscape Communicator 4.77 for MAC users◆ Appropriate version of Windows Media Player—

the appropriate version is dependent on the user’ssystem set-up

AAACN Education Goes Virtual

The program looks wonderful, but…◆ I can’t make it on those days◆ I can’t afford the cost of airfare

and hotel

◆ I can’t get time off work◆ I can’t leave my family◆ That’s too far to travel for a one day

program

How many times have you read a brochure or advertisementfor an education program and said:

To the left is the actual screen you will see ofa program. You will:◆ Have synchronized video, audio, slides,

content outline, and a word-for-word tran-script of each presentation.

◆ Be able to search the entire transcript bykey word.

◆ Get your contact hours on line.

First two programs to debut:◆ Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification

Review Course—now up and running ◆ Telehealth Nursing Practice Core Course

(TNPCC)—coming in August 2001.For a demo of these programs, go to

aaacn.org and click on the Virtual Libraryicon.

Sound familiar? Want to get rid of the barriersto learning more about ambulatory care?

AAACN can help!



The TNPCC is the first and only comprehensivecourse developed in telehealth nursing that provides:◆ Essential core information validated and present-

ed by telehealth nurse experts◆ A method to orient a nurse who is new to tele-

health practice◆ A course posttest to validate telehealth knowl-

edge

The TNPCC is primarily designed for the nurse who isnew to telehealth practice. It may also be used as arefresher course and one method to prepare for NCC’sTelephone Nursing Practice Certification Exam.

TNPCC PricingOnline CD-ROM Course Manual*

Member . . . . . . . .$99 $119 $39Non-Member . . . .$119 $139 $49

*For an additional $39/$49, you may purchase the250 page course manual to accompany your online orCD-ROM course. That’s $30 off the regular manualprices of $69 member and $79 non-member.

For just $30 more, earn over 16 contact hours of con-tinuing education credit!

The Telehealth Nursing Practice Core Course (TNPCC) Debuts!

Filmed in Nashville, TN on May 18-19, 2001, the Telehealth Nursing PracticeCore Course became a reality. This course was filmed by DigiScript

and will be ready for your viewing in August 2001.

Online Now! Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification Review CourseThis course provides an overview of the potential

content that is tested on ANCC’s ambulatory carenursing certification exam. It is a valuable opportu-nity to reinforce your knowledge of ambulatory care,identify your weak areas, and learn new information.The primary target audience for this course is regis-tered nurses interested in taking the exam. Nursestransitioning into ambulatory care may also find thecourse valuable.

Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification ReviewCourse Pricing

Online CD-ROMMembers . . . . . . .$49 $69Non-members . . .$69 $99

For just $20 more, earn over 8.5 contact hours of con-tinuing education credit!

The course includes downloadable handout materials.

Go to www.aaacn.org and click on the Virtual Library to learn more about these programs or to place an order.

To order a CD-ROM, call DigiScript at (800) 770-9308.

◆ Nurse Roles◆ Customer Service◆ Communication Principles and

Techniques◆ Legalities

◆ TNP Guidelines◆ Documentation◆ Interactive Sessions on

Communication, Documentation

◆ Special Clinical Situations andDecision Making

◆ Care of The Nurse◆ Future of Telehealth Nursing

Practice

COURSE CONTENT

Expert PresentersMaureen Espensen, BSN, RN Denine Gronseth, BSN, RN,CAurelia Marek, BSN, RN,C Penny Meeker, BS, RN

◆ Clinical Practice ◆ Triage Assessment ◆ Technical Skills◆ Care and Disease Management◆ Client Advocacy◆ Communications

◆ Telephone/Multimedia ◆ Documentation◆ Issues and Trends ◆ Professional Roles ◆ Legal and Regulatory Issues◆ Systems

◆ Operations and FiscalManagement

◆ Performance Improvement◆ Client Education◆ Test Taking Tips

COURSE CONTENT

Expert PresentersDebra Janikowski, MS, RN, CNA Candia Baker Laughlin, MS, RN,Cm

Susan Paschke, MSN, RN,Cm, CNA



AAACN ParticipationAAACN distributed the questionnaire to 13 of our

members employed in institutions in different sectionsof the country (northwest, southeast, etc.), differenttypes of ambulatory settings (university hospital clin-ics, HMOs, etc.), and different practice settings (caremanagement, primary care clinics, infusion centers,etc.). Seven members responded, a 54% return rate. Allof the questionnaires were forwarded to the center foranalysis and evaluation. The center forwarded theresults to each participating specialty organization.

AAACN FindingsThe top seven client outcome categories identified

by AAACN members as relevant to ambulatory practiceare (refer to Table 1 for definitions):• Vital signs status – relevant to 82% of ambulatory

patients• Knowledge: Health Promotion – relevant to 80% of

ambulatory patients• Medication Response - relevant to 78% of ambula-

tory patients• Physical Aging Status – relevant to 76% of ambula-

tory patients• Health Seeking Behavior – relevant to 76% of

ambulatory patients• Acceptance: Health Status – relevant to 75% of

ambulatory patients• Compliance Behavior – relevant to 75% of ambula-

tory patients

During 2000, AAACN participated in a researchstudy conducted by the Nursing OutcomesClassification (NOC) research team at the Center forNursing Classification, College of Nursing, TheUniversity of Iowa.

The classification center has a 4-year grant from theNational Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) at theNational Institutes of Health (NIH) to evaluate 260nursing-sensitive patient outcome measures as definedin the NOC schema (Johnson & Moss, 2000).

What is NOC?NOC provides a standardized language and method

for measuring outcomes that are specific patientresponses to nursing interventions throughout theduration of an illness or episode.

The outcomes are stated as concepts that representan individual, family, or community condition and canbe measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Each outcome isdefined and has a set of specific indicators. For exam-ple, one outcome listed is Knowledge: TreatmentRegimen which is defined as the “extent of understand-ing conveyed about a specific treatment regimen.” Ithas a list of 13 specific indicators such as “descriptionof the rationale for the treatment regimen,” “descrip-tion of expected effects of the treatment,” or “perfor-mance of self-monitoring techniques” (Johnson & Moss,2000). The development of this schema represents over6 years of research to develop and classify comprehen-sive nursing-sensitive patient outcomes.

Purpose and MethodologyOne major purpose of the classification center’s

study is to describe the NOC outcomes that are mostrelevant for patients in specialty nursing practice areasand in selected field sites representing the continuumof health care. The center sent questionnaires to 13 spe-cialty organizations asking an expert nurse(s) represent-ing the organization to complete the questionnaire(NIC/NOC Letter, 2001).

The questionnaire listed and defined each of the260 NOC outcomes, asking the respondents to rate thepercentage of their patients on a scale of 0-100% forwhom that outcome category was “most relevant.” Thecenter received a 100% return rate from the specialtyorganizations. The outcomes ranked most relevant tothe aggregate 13 specialty associations are:• Neurologic Status• Knowledge: Personal Safety• Knowledge: Treatment Regimen• Knowledge: Treatment Procedures• Participation: Health Care Decisions• Vital Signs Status• Coagulation Status

(NIC/NOC Letter, 2001)

Ambulatory NursingOutcomesAAACN Participates in Classification Study on Patient Outcomes

Table 1.Definitions of Top Seven

Ambulatory Nursing Outcomes

• Vital Signs Status – temperature, pulse, respi-ration, blood pressure within expected range.

• Knowledge: Health Promotion – extent ofunderstanding of information needed toobtain and maintain optimal health.

• Medication Response – therapeutic andadverse effects of prescribed medication.

• Physical Aging Status – physical changes thatcommonly occur with adult aging.

• Health Seeking Behavior – actions to promoteoptimal wellness, recovery, and rehabilitation.

• Acceptance: Health Status – reconciliation tohealth circumstances.

• Compliance Behavior – actions taken on thebasis of professional advice to promote well-ness, recovery, and rehabilitation.

Peg Mastal, PhD, MSN, RN



THE FORUMTHE FORUMonHealth CareLeadership

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Join experts for the most important conference on the most important workforce issue yet. Be there!For more information, log on to: www.healthcareforum.orgor call toll free 1-800-998-5023.

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Turning Aroundthe Negative 90’sTurning Aroundthe Negative 90’s

American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing IS PLEASED TO ENDORSE

In this study, AAACN ambulatory nurses identifiedthat health screening (Vital Signs Status) and health pro-motion information (Knowledge: Health Promotion) arecategories of patient outcomes most critical to theirpractice. Clients' need for information was made morespecific in the subsequent categories of outcomes, i. e.information about the therapeutic and adverse effects ofmedications, changes in the body due to aging, andactions that will promote recovery from illness as wellas those actions needed for optimal health. Acceptanceof Health Status was also an important outcome, infer-ring that nurses see gaining acceptance of one's healthstatus as an important outcome for clients in the ambu-latory environment. In essence, the nurses who partici-pated identified that the most important outcomes forclients in their settings were to receive specific informa-tion about their health status; information about how tocomply with treatment and achieve even better health;and realize abilities for adapting to their health situa-tions.

ReferencesJohnson, M., & Moss, M. (Eds.). (2000). Nursing Outcomes

Classification (NOC), 2nd edition. St. Louis: Mosby-YearBook, Inc.

Center for Nursing Classification. (2001). The NIC/NOCLetter, 9(1).

Peg Mastal, PhD, MSN, RNPractice Evaluation and Research Committee

(202) [email protected]

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individually identifiable, health information must havebeen created, transmitted, and/or received by a coveredentity. It must relate to the physical or mental health orcondition of an individual, to the provision of care tothat individual, or to payment for the health care provid-ed. Finally, it must identify the individual either directlyor indirectly.

The regulation provides for two methods by whichpermission can be given for the use of PHI: consent andauthorization. Consent gives an individual’s permissionfor PHI to be used internally by an organization for treat-ment, payment of claims, and business operations (peerreview, quality assurance, chart audits, and the like).Authorization gives permission by the individual for PHIto be used for other purposes, usually for disclosure ofinformation outside the organization.

A health care provider is required to obtain consentfrom the individual for theuse of PHI for treatment,payment of claims, andbusiness operations. Ahealth plan and other cov-ered entities are notrequired to obtain this con-sent. They must, however,provide information to theindividual that describeshow the information willbe used and they mustobtain authorization fromthe individual to disclosePHI for purposes otherthan treatment, payment ofclaims, and business oper-ations. It is permissible fora covered entity to disclosePHI without authorizationto an individual when theinformation is about thatindividual.

Within the regulation,treatment is defined as“the provision, coordina-tion, or management ofhealth care and related ser-vices by one or morehealth care providers,including the coordinationor management of healthcare by a health careprovider with a third party;consultation betweenhealth care providers relat-ing to a patient; or the referral of a patient for health carefrom one health care provider to another.” The regula-tion makes a distinction in treatment between providersand health plans. Health-related activities are only con-sidered to be treatment if a provider or a health careprovider working with another party delivers them. Theactivities of health plans are not considered to be treat-ments (American Association of Health Plans, 2001).

According to the regulation, payment refers to “activ-ities undertaken to collect premiums or to determine orfulfill the plan’s responsibilities for coverage and benefits;activities undertaken by a plan or provider to be reim-bursed for health care.” The activities included in the def-inition of payment are listed in Table 1.

Health care operations are broken into six categories.They are described in Table 2.

• Utilization review activities, including pre-certification and pre-authorization.

• Eligibility and coverage determinations

• Reviewing medical necessity, appropriateness ofservices, and justification of charges.

• Adjudication and subrogation of health benefitclaims

• Billing and collections

• Obtaining payments due the plan underreinsurance treaties

Source: American Association of Health Plans. (2001,January). The HIPAA privacy regulation: A detailed summary.[Regulatory Brief], p. 3.

Quality assessment and improvement activities including outcomes evaluation,development of protocols and guidelines, and contacting patients and providerswith information about treatment options.

Reviewing the competence of or qualifications of health care professionals,evaluating provider performance and training providers or non-health careprofessionals. Included are accreditation, credentialing, licensing, andcertification.

Underwriting, premium rating, and other activities related to the creation,renewal, or replacement of a health insurance or health benefits contract or tothe reinsurance of risk related to health care claims.

Conducting (or arranging for) medical review, legal services, and auditingfunctions, including fraud and abuse detection programs.

Business planning and development activities, such as analyses related to themanagement and operation of the entity, and formulary development andadministration.

Business management and general administration which includes (but is not limited to):

• Management activities related to compliance with the HIPAA AdministrativeSimplification standards

• Customer service• Resolution of internal grievances• Due diligence assessments in connection with the sale of assets to another

covered entity• Creating de-identified information for use in certain marketing or fundraising

activities.

Source: American Association of Health Plans. (2001, January). The HIPAA privacy regula-tion: A detailed summary. [Regulatory Brief], p. 3.

Protecting Health Informationcontinued from page 1

Table 1.Payment Activities

Table 2.Health Care Operations



Consumer ProtectionsThe final rule contains a

number of consumer protec-tions. The broad categories ofprotections include:• Consumer control over

health information• Boundaries on medical

record use and release• Providing only the mini-

mum amount of informationnecessary

• Ensuring the security of per-sonal health informationConsumer control over

health information. The privacyregulation requires the coveredentity to provide patient educa-tion on privacy protections. Thiseducation must be in writtenform and must reflect a clearexplanation of how providersand health plans will use, keep,and disclose health information.

Patients must be assuredaccess to their medical records.Access includes allowing thepatient to see, get copies of theirmedical records, and requestamendments to the record whenthey believe information alreadyentered is incomplete or incor-rect. The covered entity has theright to refuse a patient’s requestto amend the record if theybelieve the record is correct orthe provider believes amend-ment to the record may causeharm to the patient or others.

Patient consent or authorization must be obtainedbefore PHI is released. Other than providers, coveredentities are not usually required to obtain consent for theuse of PHI for purposes of treatment, payment of claims,and business operations. However, all covered entities,including providers, must obtain specific authorizationbefore releasing PHI for non-routine disclosures and formost non-health care purposes. For example, specificauthorization is required from the individual before thecovered entity releases information to financial institu-tions for determining mortgages and other loans or sell-ing mailing lists to interested parties such as life insur-ers. Patients have the right to request restrictions on theuses and disclosures of their personal health informa-tion.

The regulation allows a health care provider torefuse to treat an individual who does not consent to theuse of his/her PHI for routine purposes. By the sametoken, a health plan can refuse to enroll an individualwho does not consent to routine disclosures. However,neither a health plan nor a provider can condition treat-ment or enrollment on an individual’s authorization (orlack thereof) to disclose non-routine information.

The covered entity must provide for appropriate cor-rective actions if privacy protections are violated.

Patients have the right to complain to a covered healthplan or provider about violations of their privacy. If theybelieve their complaints have not been heard, addressed,and corrected, they have the right to address their con-cerns to the Secretary of the DHHS.

Boundaries on medical record use and release. Thecovered entity must assure that personal health informa-tion is not disclosed for non-health purposes without theindividual’s express authorization. Health informationcannot be used for purposes not related to health care. Inparticular, it cannot be used by employers to make per-sonnel decisions or by financial institutions to grantloans unless authorized by the individual.

Providing minimum information necessary. The reg-ulation provides that disclosure of PHI must be limitedto the minimum information necessary to achieve thepurpose of the disclosure. This does not apply to thetransfer of medical records for purposes of treatmentwhere the entire medical record is required.

Disclosures must be tracked over a 6-month periodand reports made available to the individual upon writ-ten request. Tracking can be done for all disclosures oronly for non-routine and non-health disclosures.

To meet this element of the regulation, health plansand providers will have to know the reason for eachrequest for information, will have to analyze the reasonto determine the minimum information necessary, and

Source: American Association of Health Plans. (2001, January). The HIPAA privacy reg-ulation: A detailed summary. [Regulatory Brief], p. 5.

Each exception is subject to additional conditions and requirements thatare set out in section 164.512 of the regulations. In addition, before a dis-closure is made under one of these exceptions, a covered entity may berequired to verify the identity and authority of the person requesting theinformation as required by section 164.514(h) of the regulation.

To the extent that the use ordisclosure is required by law.

To a government authority authorizedto receive reports of abuse, neglect,or domestic violence as part of suchreport.

In response to a court order, or to asubpoena, discovery request, or otherlawful process in a judicial oradministrative proceeding.

To a coroner, medical examiner, orfuneral director, to assist the recipientin performing his or her legal duties.

To prevent or lessen a serious andimminent threat to the health andsafety of an individual or the public.

For certain public health activities.

To a health oversight agency for over-sight activities.

For certain law enforcement purposes.

To an organ procurement organiza-tion in order to facilitate donation andtransplantation.

For specialized government functions(such as military missions or lawfulintelligence, counterintelligence, ornational security activities).

Table 3.Exceptions to the Consent and Disclosure Requirements

The regulation allows covered entities to use or disclose protected healthinformation:



then will have to search the necessary information outof the record. Distinctions will have to be madebetween routine and non-routine disclosures. Thehealth plan or provider will have to identify classes ofindividuals with access to information and what levelof access each particular group has. Requests for infor-mation will have to be monitored to assure each classor group of individuals receives only the informationdesignated appropriate for that class. Finally, the entitywill have to assure informed and voluntary authoriza-tion has been given for non-routine disclosures beforethe disclosure is made.

Ensuring the security of Protected HealthInformation (PHI). The regulation requires that each cov-ered entity develop, implement, and monitor specificprivacy safeguards. The evolvement of specific detailedpolicies and procedures as well as other safeguard mea-sures are left to the discretion of the covered entity. Thisflexibility was provided to assure the standards wouldbe scalable to each entity’s business.

The covered entities will be required to adopt priva-cy procedures. These procedures will have to specifywho has access to protected information; how the infor-mation will be used within the entity; when the informa-tion would or would not be disclosed to others; and howthe entity will obtain written assurance from businessassociates regarding how they will protect the privacy ofPHI as well as assurances that the business associate willnot disclose or re-disclose PHI without specific autho-rization to do so.

There are specific instances in which covered enti-ties may disclose information without authorizationfrom the individual. Table 3 describes some of these spe-cific instances. While the regulation allows for the dis-closure of these types of information, it does not requireit. Covered entities will have to make judgments aboutwhether or not to disclose the information based oninternal policies and ethical principles. It is important tonote that psychotherapy notes are held to a higher stan-dard of protection, are not a part of the general medicalrecord, and are not intended to be shared. All otherhealth information is considered sensitive and treatedconsistently under the regulation.

The entity must train employees and practitionersabout its privacy standards. It must also designate aPrivacy Officer to assure the privacy program is devel-oped, implemented, and followed. The privacy programmust include a grievance process for receiving andinvestigating allegations of violations of privacy.

Penalties for Misuse of PHIPenalties for misuse of protected health information

can be significant and can come in the form of civil aswell as criminal penalties. Civil penalties are $100 perincident, up to $25,000 per person, per year, per stan-dard. Federal penalties escalate based on the severity ofmisuse. Knowing and improper disclosure of informa-tion or obtaining information under false pretenses canresult in a fine of $50,000 and 1 year in prison for obtain-ing or disclosing protected health information. Obtaininghealth information under false pretenses can result in afine of up to $100,000 and up to 5 years in prison.Obtaining or disclosing protected health informationwith the intent to sell, transfer, or use it for commercial

advantage, personal gain or malicious harm can result ina fine of up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison.

On July 6, 2001 Secretary Tommy Thompson pub-lished the first in a series of guidance documents toassist covered entities with implementation of the stan-dards by the prescribed timeline. The DHHS Office ofCivil Rights (OCR) will have accountability for enforce-ment of the privacy standards. The OCR Web site willprovide information about the new standard as well asguidance for the industry as they continue the imple-mentation process. The address for this Web site ishttp://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/.

Secretary Thompson indicated that there will beproposed modifications to correct any unanticipatednegative impacts associated with the privacy standard.These changes come in response to public commentsreceived during the 30-day comment period SecretaryThompson requested in February 2001. The more than11,000 letters or comments will serve as a guide in theDepartment’s efforts to clarify confusing elements of therules and to eliminate uncertainties.

Among the proposed changes are the following:• Phoned-in prescriptions: Pharmacists would be per-

mitted to fill prescriptions phoned in by a patient’sdoctor before obtaining the patient’s written con-sent.

• Allowable communications: Covered entities wouldbe free to engage in whatever communications arerequired for quick, effective, high quality healthcare, including routine oral communications withfamily members, treatment discussions with staffinvolved in coordination of patient care, and usingpatient names to locate them in waiting areas.

• Minimum necessary scope: Sign in sheets, X-raylightboards, and maintenance of patient medicalrecords at the bedside would not be prohibited.Any changes to the final rule would have to be made

in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act(APA). The proposed rule changes would be publishedin the Federal Register through a Notice of ProposedRulemaking. The public would be invited to make com-ment; HHS would review and evaluate the comments,make changes as necessary and issue a final rule toimplement the approved modifications.

HHS was authorized by Congress to make anyappropriate modifications to the final rule during thefirst year in which it takes effect. As covered entitiescontinue with implementation of the final rule theyshould and must be alert for modifications and be pre-pared to respond to them appropriately.

ReferencesAmerican Association of Health Plans. (2001, January). The

HIPAA privacy regulation: A detailed summary.[Regulatory Brief].

Alston & Bird, LLP. (2001, January). HHS Issues Final HIPAAPrivacy Regulation. Healthcare Advisory, pp. 1-11.Atlanta, Georgia: Alston & Bird, LLP.

Office of Civil Rights, Department of Health and HumanServices (2001, July 6). Standards for privacy of individu-ally identifiable health information, pp. 1-41.

Catherine J. Futch, MN, RN, CNAA, CHE, CHCRegional Compliance Officer

Georgia Region, Kaiser Permanente(404) 364-4707 • [email protected]



some nurses hate this role, some like doing it butaren’t really good at it, and some nurse are born toteach. But regardless of what your strengths are, every-one can contribute to being a welcoming partner andsupportive of new members.

Decide as a group how and what you think isimportant information to give people. In taking thislead, you’ll make a difference in operational flow. Itdoesn’t matter if you’re old enough to be their motheror young enough to be their date. It does matter thatnursing staff members be viewed as team players bytheir colleagues in the delivery of patient care on adaily basis. Make this opportunity happen. Remember,everyone has a first day on his or her new job, espe-cially the new “baby docs.”

“Failure is the opportunity to begin again,more intelligently.”

– Henry Ford

AAACN Operations UpdateCore Curriculum Sales: The Core Curriculum for

Ambulatory Care Nursing textbook has sold 1,214copies in first 8 weeks of distribution. What a successmarker for AAACN!!

Online Learning: AAACN and DigiScript, Inc.™unveil new learning opportunities through the

AAACN Virtual Library (www.aaacn.org). See pages 3-5 in this issue as we debut the Virtual TelehealthNursing Practice Core Course and Ambulatory CareNursing Certification Review Course.

AAACN Web Site: We continue to refine andupdate the AAACN Web site www.aaacn.org. Pleasevisit on a regular basis and take advantage of the newfeatures as they appear. The Web site has become avital connection between AAACN and you: take fulladvantage of your membership by tapping theresources we offer there! Also, if you know anyoneinterested in joining AAACN, recommend a visit to theWeb site and tell them they will be rewarded with afree issue of Viewpoint.

Board Meeting: The AAACN Board of Directorsmet in Philadelphia June 22- 24, 2001. During themeeting, we had the opportunity to work directly withAAACN’s management company, Anthony J. Jannetti,Inc. AJJ’s staff members provided us with an educa-tional forum and framework on marketing principles.After the presentation, the board discussed at lengthhow to best apply this knowledge to AAACN’s ser-vices and products.

Conference News: Responding to members’requests, the Program Planning Committee forAAACN’s 27th Annual Conference (March 7-10, 2002,New Orleans, LA) has decided to include the roster ofconference attendees in everyone’s packets.

E. Mary Johnson, BSN, RN,CM, CNAAAACN President

[email protected]

President’s Messagecontinued from page 2

Core Curriculum for Ambulatory Care NursingAmerican Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN)Edited by Joan Robinson, MS, RN, CNAA; with 50 expert contributors2001 • 496 pp., illustrated • 0-7216-8628-1 • $49.95 • A W. B. Saunders title

Core Curriculum for Ambulatory Care Nursing provides the essen-tials of ambulatory care nursing. The first of its kind; it:

• is organized, written, and endorsed by the AAACN• is based on the Ambulatory Care Nursing Conceptual Framework• presents exceptional coverage of the essentials needed to provide effective, efficient nursing care in the

ambulatory care setting• prepares you to handle the full spectrum of ages and presenting conditions you’ll face• references the AAACN Ambulatory Care Nursing Administrative and Practice Standards, as well as the AAACN

Telehealth Nursing Practice Administration and Practice Standards

Section One offers discussions on the organizational role of the ambulatory care nurse, including need-to-know facts on

informatics, legal aspects, and patient advocacy. Section Two uses patient prototypes to illustrate the 10 dimensions of the clin-

ical nursing role. Section Three features coverage of the professional nursing role in ambulatory care.

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Multi-dimensional coverage fora multi-dimensional job!

In 2002, the AAACN AnnualConference will return to one of its mostpopular cities: New Orleans, Louisiana.

The 27th Annual Conferenceis scheduled for March 7-10,2002 at the New Orleans HyattRegency. Located within a shortwalking distance of the Riverfrontand French Quarter, the Hyatt has wel-comed AAACN in other years and welook forward to renewing our acquain-tance.

As always, the unique shopping, music,and incomparable New Orleans restaurantswill provide ample diversion in your off hours.New Orleans’ central location and affordable airfaresprovide each of us with the opportunity to gathertogether, share our successes and learning experiences,and take home those wonderful ideas that will help usto orchestrate the future of ambulatory care.

Orchestrating the future in today’s health carearena is a continual challenge for not only the leader ofthe band, but for each player. Just as a good band canpull its individual members together to form a cohesivewhole, so can ambulatory care nurses. The players orscore may change yet the beat goes on and the musicflows just as the work of nursing moves forward.

Keynote SpeakerOur keynote speaker, Harriet

Forman, RN, EdD, CNAA, is wellknown to many of us throughher long affiliation with NursingSpectrum magazine. Harriet’sthought provoking, timely edito-rials and her unswerving nursingadvocacy have been a boon toher readers; many others havehad the opportunity to enjoyHarriet’s many presentations andinteractive forums. She is a lead-

ing consultant on management, leadership develop-ment, and nurse retention. In addition to her experi-ence as chief nurse executive and administrator,Harriet is one of Nursing Spectrum’s most popularspeakers, lecturing extensively on more than 50 sub-jects. She has also been the executive director ofNursing Spectrum’s Florida Division since 1994.

Harriet received her diploma in nursing from TheMount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing, New York,NY, and her bachelor of science in nursing fromAdelphi University, Garden City, NY. She holds a mas-ter’s degree in professional studies/health care admin-



Harriet Forman

istration from LongIsland University,CW Post Center,Farmingdale, NY,and a doctorate ineducation fromTeachers College,Columbia University,New York, NY.Besides her adjunctfaculty experience,Harriet brings exper-tise from multipleboard membershipsin professional orga-nizations and court-room participationas an expert witnessin managerial com-munications for theNational LaborRelations Board and in nursing administration for theFlorida federal court. She is a member of the AmericanOrganization of Nurse Executives, Florida NursesAssociation, ANA, Sigma Theta Tau, and regionalHealthcare Recruiter Associations.

Please join us in New Orleans for Harriet Forman’skeynote presentation, “All I Really Needed to KnowAbout Nursing Professionalism I Learned from StarTrek.” You also won’t want to miss her concurrent ses-sion, “Nursing Shortage: Implications for Recruitmentand Retention.”

We will be providing more information on theconference in upcoming issues of Viewpoint and alsoon the AAACN Web site, www.aaacn.org.

Telia Emanuel, RN, MHA, CNAA(386) 676-7189 (w)

(386) 676-7148 (fax)[email protected]

2002 Annual Conference



The Nominating Committee is pleased to present a tal-ented and diverse 2002 slate of candidates all of whom arevisible leaders who have made significant contributions toAAACN.

President Elect The president-elect’s main functions are to become

knowledgeable about AAACN’s operating procedures. Thisincludes the partnership between AAACN and its manage-ment company, Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc.; current and pro-jected AAACN programs. The president-elect also becomesfamiliar with the office of president and assists the currentpresident and board.

Catherine J. Futch, MN, RN, CNAA, CHERegional Compliance Officer, Kaiser PermanenteAtlanta, GA

Nancy R. Kowal, MS, RN-C, NPPain Consultant/Pretesting Group Practice AnesthesiaU Mass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA

Board of DirectorsThere are no vacancies for 2002

Nominating CommitteeThere will be one vacancy on the Nominating

Committee. The candidates are:

Helen R. Butler, MSN, RN Director of Nursing Ambulatory Programs, Universityof Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX

Cynthia Pacek, MBA, RN, CNAAncillary Services Manager, Family Health Center ofWorcester, Worcester, MA

Look in the September/October issue of Viewpoint forthe candidates’ biographies and interest statements. A bal-lot will be mailed to all AAACN members in November,2001. Your vote counts!

The Nominating Committee is also responsible for theExcellence Award in honor of ambulatory nurses who per-sonify excellence in Administrative and/or ClinicalPractice in Ambulatory Care.

Look for the New Awards insert in theSeptember/October issue of Viewpoint and take time tonominate a colleague for the 2002 Excellence Award. Weappreciate the many contributions of our volunteer mem-bers and recognize that they indeed are our future leaders.Thank you!!

Shirley M. Kedrowski, MSN, RNChair, Nominating Committee

[email protected]

Beth Ann Swan, PhD, RN, CRNPBoard Liaison

[email protected]

Nominating Committee MembersKaren Griffin, MSN, RN, CNAA

Susan M. Paschke, MSN, RN,Cm, CNABarbara Tiedemann, BSN, RN, CNA

Practice Evaluation and ResearchCommittee

The Practice Evaluation and Research Committeemet with new members in Nashville,TN during theMarch 2001 AAACN Annual Conference.

The new co-chairs for the committee are NancyKowal, MS, NP, and Kathy Hoare, RN, PhD. ReginaPhillips, MS, RN is the liaison for the Board of Directors.

The group’s mission is to gather information aboutthe ambulatory setting and determine quality indica-tors based on scientific knowledge.

Many AAACN members individually and as awhole are concerned with ambulatory staffing. Thevalue of the ambulatory experience requires quality

decision-making. Keeping providers, clients, andemployers in mind the committee assigned a literaturereview to each member utilizing a research grid fordata collection. Research questions will be formulatedand a plan for funding and grant proposals will evolve.

Communication was identified as a major issue.An electronic mailing list was formulated and instruc-tions will be distributed to the committee. A follow-upconference call will occur the end of June. The com-mittee hopes to begin research into the ambulatorycore and support quality indicators.

Nancy Kowal, MS, NP, [email protected]

(SIG & Committee News continued next page)

Nominating Committee Introduces2002 Slate of AAACN Candidates



2001-2002 SIG Oversight CommitteeThe purpose of the SIG Oversight Committee is to

support and promote SIG growth and activities and actas an information conduit to promote problem solvingand communication with the AAACN Board ofDirectors and SIGs

The goals of the oversight committee are to increasemembership of the SIGs and to promote and facilitatecommunication among the SIGs and AAACN members.

Specific goals and objectives include the following:• The Telehealth SIG is working on defining nursing

telehealth roles.• The Pediatric SIG is building a networking group

and promoting abstract submission.• The Staff Education SIG is promoting monthly dis-

cussion topics for their electronic mailing list andworking on guidelines for implementing the corecurriculum.

• The Tri-Service Military SIG is working on nextyear’s pre-conference.

• The Veterans Affairs SIG is building a network for

sharing information within the group.The Managed Care and Informatics SIGs have dis-

banded as of this year. Cathy Martin has been theManaged Care SIG chair for the past 3 years. She triedto expand the small core group to no avail. TheInformatics SIG led by Christine Boltz struggled with adwindling core group over the past few years.Informatics was becoming a resource group, so theydecided to join with the Telehealth SIG to better utilizeresources.

I want to take this time to Thank all of the SIGchairs from last year: Jimmy Ward, Linda Schneider,Charlene Williams, Carla Cassidy, Laurie MacGillivray,Cindy Davis, and especially Cathy Martin and ChristineBoltz for their dedication and perseverance.

Please see the list of Oversight Committee membersbelow. We are providing their e-mail addresses for yourreference.

Linda Brixey, RNChair, SIG Oversight Committee

[email protected]

Linda Brixey, RN, [email protected]

Sandi Dahl, BSN, MA, RN,C, [email protected]

Pediatric SIGLinda Schneider, BSN, [email protected]

Stacey Parr, RN, [email protected]

Staff Education SIGMarianne Sherman, MS, RN, [email protected]

Cheryl Martin, MS, RN,[email protected]

Telehealth Nursing Practice (TNP) SIGCarole Becker, MS, [email protected]

Penny Meeker, [email protected]

Tri Service Military SIGJohn Morse, LTC, [email protected]

Sally Dupre, LCDR, NC, [email protected]

Belinda Doherty Capt, USAF, [email protected]

Veterans Affairs SIGJulia Younce, MSN, [email protected]

Kari Hite, RN, [email protected]

Board LiaisonKathy Krone, MS, [email protected]

Special Interest Groups (SIG) Oversight Committee 2001-2002

Pediatric Nursing Practice SIGWe know a lot of members work with pediatric

patients and would benefit by sharing informationthrough the pediatric SIG’s electronic mailing list. Ifyou are interested in pediatric topics, we invite you tojoin this e-mail list by going to the AAACN Web sitewww.aaacn.org. Go to the “For Members” section ofsite, select “Electronic Mailing Lists,” and completethe form there to register for the e-mail list.

We would also like to know:

1. What kind of information would you like toreceive on the e-mail list?

2. Are you doing anything new or innovative inyour setting that you would like share with oth-ers through the e-mail list?

Please contact me with your ideas at:[email protected], or call (215) 590-2464.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Linda Schneider, BSN, RN, [email protected]



Telehealth Nursing Practice (TNP) SIGPurpose

The purpose of the Telehealth Nursing PracticeSpecial Interest Group is:• To improve practice and promote standards for

practice in telehealth nursing.• To promote collegial sharing of technical and clini-

cal information and experiences. • To develop a network for telehealth nurses respon-

sive to the changing needs of SIG members,AAACN, and other professional nursing and non-nursing organizations.

• To influence basic nursing education curricula andprovide opportunities for basic and continuingeducation and skill development.

• To encourage research and publication within thespecialty of telehealth nursing practice.

Goals 2001-2002• Improve telehealth clinical practice through the

use and evaluation of the TNP standards.• Clarify roles and terminology relevant to telehealth

nursing to advance our practice and promote tele-health nursing as a specialty practice.

• Provide continued networking and communica-tion opportunities for TNP SIG members through:1. Viewpoint2. Electronic newsletter3. Direct mail

• Interface with AAACN Annual ConferencePlanning Committee to review TNP abstracts anddefine required support for conference.

• Integrate the Informatics SIG membership intoTNP SIG based on shared interests.

Benefits and Communication VehiclesThe SIG will meet once per year during the

AAACN Annual Conference. TNP SIG leaders willcommunicate regularly with SIG memabers inViewpoint and via the AAACN Web page and electron-ic mailing list.

Membership RequirementsAll TNP SIG members must be AAACN members.

The membership year begins upon receipt of dues.Call (800) AMB-NURS for membership informationand to purchase the Telehealth Nursing Practice CoreManual (2001), the Telehealth Nursing PracticeAdministration and Practice Standards (2001), andthe TNP Resource Directory.

Carole Becker, MS, [email protected]

Penny Meeker, [email protected]

Staff Education SIGThe staff education SIG held a business meeting

March 31, 2001 in Nashville, TN, during AAACN’s26th annual conference. Over 20 nurses attended.

Linda Brixey (outgoing chair) introduced the newchair, Marianne Sherman from Denver, CO, and CherylMartin from Bedford, NY. The group updated theEducation SIG mission and objectives:

Mission: This SIG will work to promote staff edu-cation by creating a sharing environment for AAACNmembers. We will work to provide guidelines for edu-cating and assessing nursing staff. We will work withthe AAACN training coordinator to promote educa-tional opportunities.• Support and provide input and recommendation

to AAACN leadership in the development ofambulatory core competencies

• Promote sharing of strategies to meet staff trainingneeds

• Develop a network for staff educators to use as aresource

• Work with AAACN with training initiatives

Projects

The educational SIG identified three projects for2001-2002: Topic of the Month, Tips for Education,and a Viewpoint article

Topic of the Month: Each month on the electronicmailing list, a volunteer will provide information onan educational subject and pose a question for discus-sion. The goal of this project is to increase the net-working among members pertaining to common issuesand promote strategies to meet staff training needs.The topic for June was competencies, thus focusing onthe competency objective. The July topic is JCAHOupdates and August is EMTALA. Volunteers are need-ed for the following topics: utilization of the new corecurriculum, orienting acute care nurses to the ambula-tory setting, patient safety, and cultural diversity.

The educational SIG is seeking educational tipsfrom you that can be shared with others by submittingto Viewpoint a “Tips for Education” section. Sharingeducational tips promotes sharing strategies to meetstaff needs.

The educational SIG will contribute to Viewpointby submitting an article on how AAACN’s tools andresources can be used in the ambulatory setting.

Anyone interested in assisting with any of thethree projects may contact Marianne Sherman.

The electronic mailing list will be used to commu-nicate information with members. Conference callswill not be held except to coordinate the Viewpointarticle. Input and questions are welcome.

Marianne ShermanChair, Staff Education SIG

(720) [email protected]

AAACNEast Holly Avenue, Box 56Pitman, NJ 08071-0056(856) 256-2350(800) AMB-NURS(856) 589-7463 [email protected] www.AAACN.org

E. Mary Johnson, BSN, RN, Cm, CNAPresident

Cynthia Nowicki, EdD, RN,CExecutive Director

Rebecca Linn Pyle, MS, RNEditor

Janet Perrella-D'AlesandroManaging Editor

Liz Van DzuraExecutive Secretary

Bob TaylorLayout Designer

AAACN Board of DirectorsPresidentE. Mary Johnson, BSN, RN, Cm, CNAAmbulatory Care Consultant/Credentialing Consultant

Cleveland Clinic Foundation9020 Cherokee RunMacedonia, OH 44056(330) 467-6214 (h) • (216) 444-6882 (w)[email protected]

President-ElectCandia Baker Laughlin, MS, RN, Cm2114 Columbia AvenueAnn Arbor, MI 48104(734) 936-4196 (w) • (734) 973-7931 (h) [email protected]

Immediate Past PresidentShirley M. Kedrowski, MSN, RNProject Manager, Ambulatory CareStanford Medical Center530 El Camino Real #101Burlingame, CA 94010(650) 347-5311 (h) • (650) 498-7283 (w)[email protected]

SecretaryBeth Ann Swan, PhD, CRNPSpecial Projects CoordinatorPenn Nursing Network1419 Amity RoadRydal, PA 19046(215) 572-6351 (h) • (215) 573-3050 (w)[email protected]

TreasurerKathleen P. Krone, MS, RNConsultant5784 E. Silo Ridge DriveAnn Arbor, MI 48108(734) 662-9296 (h)[email protected]

DirectorsDeborah Brigadier, CDR, NC, MSN, RN(910) 450-4529 (w)[email protected]

Catherine J. Futch, MN, RN, CNAA, CHEKaiser Permanente(404) 354-4707 (w)[email protected]

Regina Phillips, MSN, RN(312) 627-8748 (w)[email protected]@aol.com

Published by the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing

16

2001 © American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing

M i s s i o n S t a t e m e n t

Advance the art and scienceof ambulatory care nursing

PresortedFirst-Class Mail

U.S. PostagePAID

Pitman, NJPermit # 42

Telehealth Nursing PracticeCore (TNPC) ManualBe the first to have the newest item in telehealth nursing practice education.This 260-page manual was developed by telehealth experts to complementthe content presented in AAACN’s Telehealth Nursing Practice Core Course.

The TNPC focuses on the essential competencies associated with deliveringnursing care to patients via telecommunications technologies.

Use this TNPC Manual to:■ Orient new nurses to the role of telehealth practice ■ Understand practice issues related to

telehealth nursing ■ Brush up on the skills needed to practice telehealth successfully■ Study for the National Certification Corporation’s Telephone Nursing Practice Certification Exam

The TNPC content includes:• Overview: Telehealth Nursing Practice • Basics and Issues of Documentation• Focus and Roles • Interactive – Documentation• Customer Service • Clinical Knowledge: An Overview• Communication Principles • Clinical Knowledge: Special Situations• Communication Techniques • Clinical Knowledge: At Risk Potpourri• Interactive – Communication • Care of the Nurse• Legal Aspects of Telehealth Nursing • Telehealth Nursing Practice: The Future• Guidelines

Pick up your copy today!Introductory Prices: $79 list price $69 AAACN member discount

American Academy of Ambulatory Care NursingEast Holly Avenue Box 56; Pitman, NJ 08071-0056 ● 856-256-2350 ● 1-800-AMB-NURS

Fax: 856-589-7463 ● E-mail: [email protected] ● Web site: aaacn.org

Documents

Catherine J. Futch Raises the Bar on Privacy Issues · “something“ about how your clinic works. It just doesn’t happen that way. These new faces cause both the seasoned nurses