[Congressional Bills 103th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S.J. Res. 208 Committee Discharged Senate (CDS)] 103d CONGRESS 2d Session S. J. RES. 208 Designating the week of November 6, 1994, through November 12, 1994, ``National Health Information Management Week''. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 1 (legislative day, June 7), 1994 Mr. Wofford (for himself, Mr. Bond, Mr. DeConcini, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Durenberger, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Mathews, Mr. Riegle, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Craig, Mr. Kempthorne, Mr. Reid, Mrs. Kassebaum, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Exon, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Sasser, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Warner, Mr. Kerrey, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. McCain, Mr. Specter, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Simon, Mr. Levin, Mr. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Pressler, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Robb, Mr. Gorton, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Burns, Mr. Mack, Mr. Danforth, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Cohen, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Stevens, Ms. Moseley-Braun, and Mr. Nunn) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary October 6 (legislative day, September 12), 1994 Committee discharged _______________________________________________________________________ JOINT RESOLUTION Designating the week of November 6, 1994, through November 12, 1994, ``National Health Information Management 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 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 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 systems, controlling comprehensive databases, 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. <all>