Your medical office staff understands the imperative of safeguarding personal health information (PHI) and wouldn't let strangers roam about the facilities freely. But it's easy for them to lower their guard when a former employee comes back to the practice, e.g., to pick up a final paycheck or just make a social call. Ex-employees are a common and virulent privacy threat, even … [Read more...] about Traps to avoid: Giving ex-practice employees access to PHI
HIPAA
HIPAA Refresher: Is your practice on top of NPPs?
By Ranadene K. Tapio, MBA, CMRS, CMC, Guest Contributor bio I know, HIPAA is old news. And ALL of your offices are presenting your patients with a HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) already. Right? Are you sure? Do you have systems in place to ensure this is being done? Do you work the front desk, so you know it's getting done? Are you in the back office, and in … [Read more...] about HIPAA Refresher: Is your practice on top of NPPs?
HIPAA security can fail if the office doesn’t take common-sense precautions
No matter how tight its HIPAA privacy procedures, if the office isn't also focusing on common sense, the patient data is wide open to compromise. "That's because we do things we don't think about," says Rosemarie Nelson, a principle with MGMA practice management consulting in Syracuse, NY. "It's not hackers trying to get at the office's data" that the manager needs to worry … [Read more...] about HIPAA security can fail if the office doesn’t take common-sense precautions
HIPAA extends to gossip as well as to searching out dirt on an ex-spouse
Getting staff to maintain patient confidentiality goes much further than getting them to protect electronic data. A significant risk for offices is just plain talk. A staffer tells a friend about a patient's condition. Or there could be actual malice where a staffer looks up information on an ex-spouse. Or there could be innocent talk where a staffer in one office tells a … [Read more...] about HIPAA extends to gossip as well as to searching out dirt on an ex-spouse
Compliance perspective: How to keep an employee from damaging your practice on social media
In the cyber age, protecting your practice from the potential threat posed by employee blogging, tweeting, Instagramming, and other social networking is a business imperative. But how? To find out, keep reading. . . It is your business The starting point is recognizing that social networking by employees is not purely a private matter. Over the past decades, courts and … [Read more...] about Compliance perspective: How to keep an employee from damaging your practice on social media
The patient privacy epidemic and what can be done about it
By Mark Hughes In most medical office or hospital reception areas, speech privacy is virtually nonexistent. Because these spaces rarely have walls or partitions to block sound, patients often overhear conversations between office personnel and other patients. Lack of speech privacy is by no means confined to reception areas and pharmacy lines – the problem is also present … [Read more...] about The patient privacy epidemic and what can be done about it
Want to improve collections? Start by looking at your Patient Registration System
By Ranadene (Randi) K. Tapio, MBA, CMRS, CMC, Guest Contributor bio First and foremost, a good intake system and/or form is a must! If set up properly, your intake system and/or form will collect all the necessary information you need to bill a patients insurance carrier(s). Offices should collect, at minimum, the following information: Demographics Patient's full … [Read more...] about Want to improve collections? Start by looking at your Patient Registration System
Six HIPAA violations you may be missing
Is your practice HIPAA compliant? Are you sure? Most health-care providers take very seriously this federal mandate to protect patient privacy—at least in theory. In practice, however, lots of things get missed. "When HIPAA was new and everyone was going to lectures and conferences and getting training, everyone was on top of it," says Erika Adler, an attorney specializing in … [Read more...] about Six HIPAA violations you may be missing
WannaCry: Cyberattack hits critical infrastructure worldwide
By Kimberly Shutters, BCS bio A major worldwide ransomware attack, referred to as WannaCry, hit critical infrastructure and government computers starting mid-May, prompting warnings, patches, and other support to those that may have already been infected or who may be looking to prevent infection. Affected industries worldwide include healthcare, railway operations, … [Read more...] about WannaCry: Cyberattack hits critical infrastructure worldwide
Texas health system settles potential HIPAA disclosure violations
Memorial Hermann Health System (MHHS) has agreed to pay $2.4 million to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and adopt a comprehensive corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. MHHS is a not-for-profit health system located in Southeast Texas, comprising 16 hospitals … [Read more...] about Texas health system settles potential HIPAA disclosure violations