My wife, Susan, views computers much the same way she views garage-door openers. She’ll be the first to say that the only thing she really cares to know about either is that when she clicks a certain button, things will work as they have and as they should. I suspect she isn’t alone in feeling …
A HIPAA blog just for the holidays. What if Mr. Claus was injured in a run-in with a reindeer and a nurse in the hospital leaked the news?
As soon as you discover that’s there’s been a breach of PHI, HIPAA requires that “without unreasonable delay” you notify those patients whose information is involved and in danger of being compromised. This article discusses how to do that.
But no matter how much we might wish that hackers weren’t so busy or so clever, malicious software in the form of viruses, worms, and “Trojan horses” is out there. Today’s blog will talk about specific steps healthcare practices can take to keep systems free from malware.
Today, let’s do some trash talkin’ – and take a look at the HIPAA compliant way to dispose of papers that contain Protected Health Information (PHI). Even if much of your PHI is now in digital form (ePHI) and your office is well on its way to becoming paperless, chances are you still need a …
Quick Tip: A Short Guide to a HIPAA Compliant Shredding Read More »
HIPAA deals mainly with safeguarding Protected Health Information (PHI) in all its forms. In essence, it’s a patient-centered law. OSHA, on the other hand, is all about working conditions.
With so much involved in running a successful healthcare practice today, it’s easy to understand how HIPAA has come to be viewed as more of a nuisance than a necessary part of good care. But at its core, HIPAA isn’t about extra logistical hassles or additional work, it’s really about best practices — and creating and maintaining a professional environment that protects every patient’s rights.
In an earlier post, I talked about “The Secret to Passing a HIPAA Audit.” And it came down to the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared.
Today I’d like to expand a bit on that and offer some info on specific areas of compliance the HIPAA auditors will be delving into. These areas aren’t a secret. In fact, auditors who’ll be knocking on doors of practices like yours will arrive with very clear guidelines from HHS as to what to look for and evaluate.
These days it’s not just healthcare providers who know about HIPAA. Healthcare consumers are becoming much more aware of their right to privacy and the role that HIPAA plays in that. This article takes a look at what that can mean for healthcare practices.
