Tag: technology
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Tracking A Patient’s Every Move: HIPAA Compliance Risk
By: Kelli Fleming with Burr & Forman LLP The Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (”OCR”) recently published a guidance bulletin addressing the use of online tracking technologies by entities covered by HIPAA, including but not limited physician practices. A tracking technology is used to collect information about how online users interact with…
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What Are Some Common Challenges and Solutions for Medical Practices?
Regulatory compliance and technology are changing the landscape of the health care industry. New technologies, revenue cycles resolution and changes in leadership can all have a positive impact on your practice. Are you prepared to take on these new opportunities? In this article, Tammie Lunceford answers a few questions about how the landscape is changing…
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You Can Help Improve Transparency in the Certified Health IT Market
Visit Open Forums in May to Inform a New Comparison Tool Stop by to provide input at an upcoming open forum on the new EHR Reporting Program, which will provide publicly-available, no-cost, comparative information on certified health IT available on the market. We are also providing a link for regional stakeholders to participate in the…
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HHS Proposes New Rules to Improve Interoperability of EHI
Could new innovations in technology promote patient access and make no-cost health data exchange a reality for millions? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed new rules to support seamless and secure access, exchange and use of electronic health information. The rules, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services…
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Plan While You Still Can
In our work with hundreds of medical practices, and in our Firm’s medical practice manager roundtable meetings, a common issue among medical practitioners is the uncertainty about the economic future of their medical practices. Reimbursement levels may drop, many patients may choose medical coverage offered by a state-sponsored exchange, and the burden of changing technology…
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Are Your Electronic Devices Physically Secure?
In the age of electronic medical records and ransomware attacks, recent focus with regard to HIPAA compliance seems to be on electronic security. How are your electronic medical records stored? Do you require two-factor authentication to access your electronic system remotely? What firewalls and malware detection systems do you have in place to prevent a…
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Phishing Schemes Can Paralyze Your Medical Practice
“Phishing” occurs when emails are sent to individuals or entities in an attempt to fraudulently gain access to personal information or introduce malware into the computer system. These emails are often disguised to look familiar to the recipient. The perpetrator may disguise their communication to appear to be from a colleague, family member or friend.…
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What Eight Things You Should Do to Protect Your Business from Cyber Threats
Cyber threats take many forms. The widespread WannaCry ransomware attack in May 2017 highlighted how computer files could be held hostage in return for payment, while the Dyn denial of service in October 2016 highlighted how websites like Airbnb and Twitter could be made inaccessible. Cyber threats are on the rise within the health care…
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Report: EMR Industry Must Reckon with Physician User Frustration
ROCKVILLE, MD – A new study by health care market researcher Kalorama Information has found that physician frustration over the use of EMR systems will be a trend for vendors to deal with. Previously, incentives paid to providers to buy and use electronic medical records were enough for a market boost, but now user frustration is…
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Between Doctors & Patients…Technology in the Treatment Room
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the Spring 2016 issue of Alabama Medicine magazine Love them or hate them, electronic records are here to stay. Electronic health records, or EHRs, are an evolution of the electronic medical records, or EMRs, that some medical practices use internally. EMRs are a digital version of the…