Healthcare IT Support Topics

HIPAA-required risk analysis demands repetition

Various healthcare industry studies have shown that an alarming number of medical practices are not prepared to be HIPAA compliant.   For example, certain surveys indicated roughly 1/3 of respondents had not conducted a HIPAA-required risk analysis. HIPAA ruling 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A) requires a medical practice (covered entity) to periodically perform a thorough risk analysis. Meanwhile, The U.S. […]

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Reopening the Workplace After COVID-19: Technology Considerations

Returning to your establishment doesn’t necessarily mean you will be abandoning all of your Work From Home (WFH) set-ups. In fact, for most of you, your workforce will likely consist of remote workers for some time to come. In addition, workstations in your establishment may have been sitting idle while everyone worked remotely. Your technology

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How To Implement a Business Continuity Plan

Business continuity recovery plans can help businesses realize the following benefits: Ensure the highest level of data security Enhance business resiliency and maintain reputability Achieve maximum availability of mission-critical data Maintain continuity of business operations even in the harshest scenarios Have processes in place to minimize recovery time after a disaster Considering all these advantages,

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A HIPAA Risk Assessment is Mandatory: How to Avoid Audit Troubles

As a professional in the healthcare field, you obviously are very familiar with HIPAA, that ever-present reminder that data security is an issue that is always running in the background behind every activity that takes place in a medical professional’s workplace––as well as almost every supporting business that works with them. Everyone who works with

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New Jersey Healthcare provider Hackensack Meridian hospital paid ransom to hackers to stop a cyberattack

The targeted ransomware event at Hackensack Meridian Health brought the computer network systems down last week, resulting in interruptions across its IT network, including Carrier Clinic in Montgomery and three sub-acute facilities. The Edison-based healthcare company said it had insurance to help cover the costs associated with cyberattacks, including payment, remediation, and recovery efforts. The

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5 reasons why your Healthcare Practice Needs PROFESSIONAL IT Services and not a break-fix guy.

Information technology in the field of modern healthcare plays an increasingly important role, in addition to contributing to the advanced quality and effectiveness of oral health care for patients. There are many forms of IT used in the medical industry, including the following: 1. Practice Management Software In healthcare, practice management software handles the business

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Violating HIPAA regulations is a Crime that Can Lead to Serious Penalties

Attorney generals and district attorneys around the country, are increasingly taking HIPAA violations seriously. Criminal charges for violating HIPAA are serious. You should know that the federal government can bring criminal charges against companies and company employees under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Attorney generals and district attorneys around the country, are

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Not understanding HIPAA requirements can cost your practice millions

In April of 2017, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a HIPAA settlement based on the impermissible disclosure of unsecured ePHI. CardioNet, a Pennsylvania based wireless health services provider, has agreed to settle potential non-compliance with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules by paying $2.5 million and implementing a corrective action

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In wake of recent ransomware attacks, importance of HIPAA compliance is vital to providers and business associates

In the wake of two recent global ransomware attacks, Airway Oxygen Inc., a privately held Michigan-based medical equipment provider reported that the mid-April ransomware attack had more than 500,000 patient records compromised. In what is believed to be one of the most severe ransomware attacks on healthcare information in 2017, over half-a-million patient records including

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HIPAA Breaches and Penalties Proliferate in New Jersey

As a provider of IT managed services to medical practices and other small and medium businesses predominantly in New Jersey, we continue to see numerous examples HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) violations that are risking medical practice profitability and viability. We encounter many practices that are not aware the financial and operational risks

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$750,000 HIPAA settlement emphasizes the importance of risk analysis

In September of 2015 Cancer Care Group, P.C, a radiation oncology private physician practice, with 13 radiation oncologists serving hospitals and clinics throughout Indiana, agreed to pay a $750,000 penalty corresponding to a breach in 2012. In conjunction to the monetary fine, Cancer Care Group, P.C has agreed to adopt an action plan to correct

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How to maintain HIPAA compliance in 7 steps

So, your practice may have achieved the coveted HIPAA compliance. Congratulations – now you must maintain it! Maintaining a consistent HIPAA compliance program is a critical part of ongoing compliance, which includes documentation, proactive risk management, privacy and security operations and periodic self-audits. 7 Steps of HIPAA Compliance Maintenance Promote and nurture culture of compliance

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HIPAA Violation Lesson to be Learned From This Healthcare Security Breach

In November 2015 Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital in Greenville, KY, reported a data breach affecting patients, staff, contractors, and anyone who may have used the hospital’s network between 2012 and July 2015.  It turns out that a keylogger was intercepting Kentucky hospital’s data for three years. On September 16th, the FBI notified the hospital

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11 Great Mobile Apps for Doctors and Medical Professionals

Here is a list of 11 mobile apps that can assist medical practitioners in their daily workflow, listed in alphabetical order. AgileMD Platform: iOS, Android Price: ranges from free to individuals to share with up to 20 clinicians, to $75,000+ annual subscription to health systems (2+ departments/sites) with unlimited clinicians. AgileMD is a web, mobile,

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Anthem Insurance hack puts up to 80 million records of personally identifiable information at risk

In a historic data breach hackers have stolen information on tens of millions records of the insurance company Anthem Inc.. The information hacked from Anthem, Inc. includes patient’s birthdays, medical IDs, social security numbers, mailing and e-mail addresses. Even employment information, and, possibly, individual’s income data was stolen. While Anthem puts accent on the statement

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HIPAA Security and Privacy Training

HIPAA Final Rule The HIPAA Final Rule, released January 17, 2013, taking effect March 26, 2013, must be implemented by Covered Entities and Business Associates by September 23, 2013, which has already passed. One requirement is to train all workforce members. Even those familiar with HIPAA policies will need retraining, according to HHS Office of

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Mobile Device Management, HIPAA, and Your practice

The Violation Concentra Health Services has been fined approximately $1.7 million and Arkansas insurer QCA Health Plan Inc. $250,000 by OCR for stolen laptops containing unencrypted Protected Health Information (PHI). (Stolen laptops lead to important HIPAA settlements). According to OCR, both Organizations demonstrated long-term non-compliance with HIPAA. Along with the fines, both organizations have committed

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Top 10 Reasons a Medical Practice should be HIPAA Compliant

Physician practices that do not take proactive steps towards becoming HIPAA compliant do so at their peril. Here are our “Top Ten” reasons why you need to be compliant: 1.     While the Meaningful Use Incentives are optional, HIPAA compliance is not If you manage Protected HIPAA Information (PHI), you must comply with federal HIPAA regulations

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HIPAA compliance period ended. Here are 7 critical steps you needed.

The regulations known as the HIPAA/HITECH Omnibus Final Rule went into effect in late March 2013, with an 180-day safe harbor compliance period ending on September 23, 2013. While new rules do not drastically change HIPAA/HITECH compliance obligations for medical services and healthcare providers, big changes come to Business Associates – such as third-party administrators,

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WellPoint neglected HIPAA compliance and must now pay $1.7 Million in fines

As announced in HHS press release last week, the managed care company WellPoint Inc. has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) $1.7 million to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. This case sends an important message to

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Attention, healthcare providers! Is your practice compliant with HIPAA and HITECH rules and regulations?

The Omnibus Final Rule took effect on January 17th, 2013, setting September 23rd as a deadline for regulations compliance. Not all medical practices are ready. With only 2 months left until the compliance due date, it is critical to review your Practice’s processes to analyze compliance readiness and to ensure the new HIPAA and HITECH

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HIPAA Compliance: loss of $400,000 and damage to the reputation for ISU

HIPAA Rules and Regulations are a reality, and healhtcare providers must be compliant, by law. If the correct steps are taken and a reasonable investments in time and money are made, medical practices can ensure that they are on the right track to meet any HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules compliance and avoid embarrassing investigation,

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Box Makes an Addition to HIPAA Compliance Solutions

“Healthcare is an enterprise vertical for cloud storage company Box, and it is growing fast” – says Box’s co-founder and CEO Aaron Levie. Back in November 2012, Box achieved compliance with HIPAA and HITECH obligations, reinforcing their position as the secure cloud platform for collaboration, external sharing and mobile productivity. Healthcare organizations – providers, insurers

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Cybersecurity for Networked Medical Devices: Computer viruses and malware on the rise

High-risk medical technology has been found to be infected by computer viruses and malware, health and security experts stated. The warnings were given as part of a panel discussion in Washington DC, as reported by Technology Review from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Here is one example of how the systems can be affected by viruses

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HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules Compliancy is a Must!

I recently came across an article that highlighted a five doctor, Arizona based cardiac surgery practice, that was fined $100,000 by the Division of Health and Human Services (HHS) for violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. The small firm was keeping their patient appointment calendars on a public

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