Healthcare IT can best be explained as technology that allows the secure exchange of medical and patient information between healthcare providers, patients, insurers, and other administrative operations. With the rapid increase of healthcare companies adopting cloud technology to share files and store private data, the need to involve managed service providers to assure full … [Read more...] about 4 ways your managed IT provider can help with HIPAA
HIPAA
Patient right of access: Consequences are extreme if you get it wrong
By Suze Shaffer Patients’ right of access has extreme consequences if they are not handled properly. It starts the moment a patient makes this request. HIPAA prohibits unreasonable measures when patients are requesting access to their medical records. Most practices think this request must be in writing. Although this is ideal, sometimes it can cause a problem when the … [Read more...] about Patient right of access: Consequences are extreme if you get it wrong
Make someone responsible for HIPAA compliance and security
By Suze Shaffer Preventing data breaches and securing patient data is everyone’s responsibility, but the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) requires someone to be the point person. Make sure you have assigned a HIPAA Privacy Officer and a HIPAA Security Officer. Everyone in the practice needs to know who these people are by these titles. In a small practice it could be just one … [Read more...] about Make someone responsible for HIPAA compliance and security
Is our wart lady here yet? Respecting patient privacy and dignity
True story: A friend of a staff member here at Medical Office Manager, awaiting treatment at a general practitioner's office for a small but bothersome wart, heard this loud call into the crowded waiting room, "Is our wart lady here yet?" She changed doctors after that embarrassing experience. Calling patients into medical office examination rooms while protecting their … [Read more...] about Is our wart lady here yet? Respecting patient privacy and dignity
18 ways your medical office can run afoul of laws and regulations
Running a medical office comes the responsibility for ensuring compliance with various laws and regulations. Failure to meet compliance requirements can lead to legal, financial, and reputational troubles. Here are some—but by no means all—the ways your medical office can run into compliance trouble: HIPAA Violations: Failure to protect patient health information and maintain … [Read more...] about 18 ways your medical office can run afoul of laws and regulations
10 tips for hiring the right medical office cleaning company
The job of cleaning your medical office isn't for just any cleaning company. The cleaners you contract must have expertise in infection control for the safety of patients and staff. From the reception area and waiting area to treatment rooms, back offices and breakrooms, all surfaces must be regularly and hygenically cleaned. Biohazards, sharps and chemicals can pose a hazard … [Read more...] about 10 tips for hiring the right medical office cleaning company
5 reasons to hire a medical scribe
As the manager of a medical office, you understand how crucial it is to provide quality patient care while also maintaining efficient operations. One way to achieve this is by hiring a medical scribe. In this article, we will explore what a medical scribe does, why your office might want to hire one, and how to find the right candidate. What is a Medical Scribe? A medical … [Read more...] about 5 reasons to hire a medical scribe
Why and how to find translators for your patients
In today's diverse world, it's essential for healthcare providers to be able to communicate effectively with patients of all backgrounds. Sometimes this task falls to families, friends or supporters of a patient. These helpers are not always available or able to help. This is where medical translators come in. In this article, we'll explore why your medical office might need … [Read more...] about Why and how to find translators for your patients
Proposed rule would standardize how to send health care attachments
It might get easier for your medical office to send healthcare attachments and electronic signatures. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has issued a proposed rule, “Adoption of Standards for Health Care Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures, and Modification to Referral Certification and Authorization Transaction Standard (CMS-0053-P).” If … [Read more...] about Proposed rule would standardize how to send health care attachments
5 ways your medical office can violate HIPAA
The HIPAA Privacy Act is a federal law that was established in 1996 to set provisions and standards for the protection of personal health information. The rule puts limits and conditions on the use and disclosure of patient medical information. It also gives patients the right to obtain a copy, examine, and request corrections to their records. Though most medical practices are … [Read more...] about 5 ways your medical office can violate HIPAA