Touchstone Compliance

Menu
Login

HIPAA Security Rule

Having Business Associate Agreements Can Save a Healthcare Office Boku Bucks

Leave a Comment / Business Associate Agreement, HIPAA Privacy Rule, HIPAA Security Rule, Omnibus Rule / By

“The times they are a changin’,” Bob Dylan sang in the Sixties. And they still are, especially when it comes to HIPAA and its regulaltions regarding Business Associate Agreements. The Omnibus Rule that went into effect in September of 2013 makes it clear that business associates of healthcare practices now have to comply with many …

Having Business Associate Agreements Can Save a Healthcare Office Boku Bucks Read More »

Can You Keep a Secret? 9 Tips for Creating Strong Passwords.

Leave a Comment / HIPAA Quick Tip, HIPAA Security Rule / By

The computers in your office are veritable treasure chests of information cyber pirates would love to get their hands on. Only authorized personnel in a practice should have the keys to unlock what’s inside.  Passwords as those keys. They play an important role in protecting Electronic Health Records (EHR) and the vital information those records …

Can You Keep a Secret? 9 Tips for Creating Strong Passwords. Read More »

Best Popcorn for Watching a Short HIPAA Video about Security of EHR

Leave a Comment / Electronic Health Records, HIPAA Security Rule / By

This short blog is going to point you in the direction of a good HHS video about the security of EHR  and a good popcorn to go with it. I’ve always loved popcorn. Who doesn’t? I remember my mom sprinkling the kernels into the hot oil in a heavy-duty kettle on our kitchen stove, slapping …

Best Popcorn for Watching a Short HIPAA Video about Security of EHR Read More »

Why Serious HIPAA Enforcement Is Inevitable

Leave a Comment / Electronic Health Records, HIPAA Security Rule / By

To borrow a phrase from Stephen Colbert, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) — the department in charge of HIPAA enforcement — got a “wag of the finger” a while back from the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. And that’s bound to have an impact on healthcare offices everywhere. A November …

Why Serious HIPAA Enforcement Is Inevitable Read More »

HIPAA, Britney Spears, and Protected Health Information

Leave a Comment / audit trail, Data Security, HIPAA Privacy Rule, HIPAA Security Rule / By

I don’t know much about Ms. Spears. I’ve no idea who she’s paired with at the moment. And if I saw an Enquirer headline that read, “North Woods Shocker: Britney Marries Bigfoot,” I would not be tempted to buy a copy. But a lot of people are  curious about celebrities like Britney Spears or Kim …

HIPAA, Britney Spears, and Protected Health Information Read More »

Are Templates for HIPAA Policies & Procedures a Good Idea?

Leave a Comment / HIPAA Privacy Rule, HIPAA Security Rule, Policies and Procedures / By

Some providers believe the solution to HIPAA’s Policies and Procedures requirement is to buy a bunch of templates, fill in all the blanks that say NAME OF YOUR PRACTICE HERE, put those pages in a binder, slide the binder on a shelf, and be done with it. Templates can provide an acceptable starting point, but Policies and Procedures need to be specific to each practice.

8 Simple Physical Safeguards for Protected Health Information

Leave a Comment / HIPAA Quick Tip, HIPAA Security Rule / By

It’s happened in hundreds of offices. A thirsty staff member brings a beverage to a computer workstation. Sets in down within easy reach. Logs on to the computer and turns her attention to the screen. A few minutes later, she absently reaches for the drink. Accidentally knocks it over. Gasps as the cola from her …

8 Simple Physical Safeguards for Protected Health Information Read More »