Sharing protected health information between healthcare providers is important for treating patients, but it risks breaching patient privacy. Ensuring compliance with privacy and security regulations through measures like router and device security can be time-consuming for understaffed IT departments. Performing required risk assessments and audits to comply with regulations can also overwhelm small practices or stretch the limits of available IT resources. A scalable and user-friendly software package can help healthcare providers effectively maintain compliance with reporting requirements while protecting patient information.

2. The need to share
 Effectively treating patients requires sharing protected health information
between healthcare providers. For instance, an elderly patient suffering from
shoulder pain may be sent to a specialist for treatment. Having the ability to
compare new x-rays with ones already taken would help the doctor diagnose
and treat the problem. When the information needed is protected
information belonging to another healthcare provider, even within the same
facility, it can cause an issue. Getting the necessary information to the new
doctor without breaching patient privacy is paramount.

4. Compliance
 For the IT healthcare professional, ensuring that all the steps are taken for
protecting privacy and improving security can be time-consuming. Routers,
web servers, Smartphone’s, tablets and laptop computers must be
safeguarded to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of healthcare
information. Often the IT department is understaffed and over tasked.
Assigning a dedicated full-time IT position to maintain safeguards may not be
feasible.

6. Risk Assessment
 Engaging in a security HIPPA risk assessment under HITECH, Meaningful
Use, HIPAA and Omnibus Rules can be overwhelming. The complexity of
these reporting period assessments only increases with the complexity of the
facility. However, a small practice may not have the resources for a dedicated
IT professional. It may fall to staff members to perform the IT risk analysis.
Even if IT professionals are available, performing a risk assessment and
ensuring compliance with all standards can stretch manpower to the limits.

8. Finding balance
 The question becomes establishment of a system that effectively maintains
compliance with the reporting requirements. This becomes a more pressing
concern if non-IT personnel must complete the audit and submit reports.
The answer for many healthcare facilities may be with software. A software
package that is scalable, user-friendly and that meet legal requirements can
help the healthcare provider to protect the privacy and security of patient
health information.

10. The Compliancy Group LLC.
55 Broadway Unit 684
Greenlawn, NY 11740
Contact No: 855 854 4722
Fax: 631.731.1643
Info@compliancygroup.com
http://www.compliancy-group.com