Hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) are tracked for quality reporting (e.g., CMS HAC Reduction Program), requiring accurate documentation of whether conditions were present on admission (POA).
Option A (Computer assisted coding for ICD-10): Coding tools improve coding efficiency but do not specifically ensure POA accuracy for HACs.
Option B (Computerized physician order entry for laboratory tests): CPOE improves order accuracy but is unrelated to HAC documentation.
Option C (Electronic health record alerts for present on admission indicators): This is the correct answer. The NAHQ CPHQ study guide states, “EHR alerts for POA indicators ensure accurate documentation of whether conditions were present on admission, critical for identifying HAC rates” (Domain 1). Alerts prompt clinicians to document POA status, reducing errors.
Option D (Electronically delivered medical record queries for physicians): Queries clarify documentation but are reactive, less effective than proactive alerts.
CPHQ Objective Reference: Domain 1: Patient Safety, Objective 1.7, “Use technology to enhance safety reporting,” includes EHR alerts for accurate HAC tracking. The NAHQ study guide notes, “POA alerts improve HAC identification accuracy” (Domain 1).
Rationale: EHR alerts ensure real-time POA documentation, directly improving HAC rate accuracy, as per CPHQ’s safety technology principles.
[Reference: NAHQ CPHQ Study Guide, Domain 1: Patient Safety, Objective 1.7., , , , ]
