Arkansas City Community Matters January 2015

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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.


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