One of the ways that HITECH Answers is different from other media sites is the sense of community. The thought leaders in our community are good about sharing their thoughts on the issues of today. We publish at least eleven guest posts a week now, on our three sites. In case you missed some, here are the top ten read and shared guest posts in the month of April. You can also read previous month’s Top Ten Lists. Thank you for contributing and reading.
OCR Issues Second Largest HIPAA Fine to Date – $5.5 Million
By Art Gross, President and CEO, HIPAA Secure Now!
Twitter: @HIPAASecureNow
According to an article over on tripwire, a covered entity is facing serious penalties after the Office for Civil Rights issued them a hefty fine for their failure to comply with audit procedures including review, modification and termination of users’ access. “In the scope of the investigation, it was discovered that more than 100,000 individuals had their electronic Protected Heath Information (ePhi) records impermissibly disclosed.” This announcement by the Office for Civil Rights came on February 16, 2017, announcing a settlement agreement had been reached with Memorial Healthcare System (MHS) for their potential HIPAA violations. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
Moving to the Head of the Class with Better Business Intelligence Models
By Arun Rangamani, SVP, Analytics & Technology, SCIO Health Analytics
Twitter: @SCIOanalytics
Healthcare business intelligence and analytics today needs to be faster, more comprehensive and more insightful than ever before. It’s a tall order that is proving to be too much for current business intelligence models (see “Current Models No Longer Making the Grade”). Emerging business intelligence PODs – or cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams that bring together design and engineering to deliver the optimal results – could come to the rescue and eventually take hold as the new centers of excellence (CoE) that will deliver much needed value in these demanding times. Continue reading on HIEAnswers.net…
Significance of Medical Data Breaches – Steps Healthcare Institutions Must Take
By Arman Sadeghi, Founder, All Green Electronics Recycling
According to the Brookings Institution, from late 2009 up to present times, the cost of breaches in the healthcare industry has reached $363 per record. Further, over 155 million Americans have had their medical information compromised by way of 1,500 data infractions. Interestingly, the medical care industry is the most vulnerable of all arenas. As reports by Accenture reveal, hospitals are likely to incur losses worth $305 billion over the next few years thanks to cyber crime. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
Are Biometrics the Future of HIPAA Security?
By Kayla Matthews, HIT journalist and Blogger
Twitter: @KaylaEMatthews
Medical electronic health records, or EHRs for short, may have the potential to be much more secure than conventional records. That sounds like a bold claim in light of news about data breaches involving personal information. In fact, according to a report from the Identity Theft Resource Center and CyberScout, the number of tracked data breaches in the United States in 2016 hit an all-time high of 1,093. And still, more than 78% of doctors use EHRs, says the CDC. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
Who’s Accessing Your Data?: The Insider Threat
By Matt Fisher, Attorney and chair of the Health Law Group at Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP.
Twitter: @matt_r_fisher
Medical electronic health records, or EHRs for short, may have the potential to be much more secure than conventional records. That sounds like a bold claim in light of news about data breaches involving personal information. In fact, according to a report from the Identity Theft Resource Center and CyberScout, the number of tracked data breaches in the United States in 2016 hit an all-time high of 1,093. And still, more than 78% of doctors use EHRs, says the CDC. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
MIPS: The Latest Urban Legend?
By Jim Tate, EMR Advocate, Meaningful Use Audit Expert
Twitter: @JimTate
We have all heard them, the urban legends. Giant alligators in the sewers of New York City. The woman who put her poodle in the microwave to dry it off after a bath. And my personal favorite, the Vanishing Hitchhiker. Who doesn’t like to hear a good story about cock roaches in a bouffant hairdo? We know they aren’t true but we like them anyway. What harm can it be to hear and pass on these morbid tales that bring such delight? No harm at all. However, in the world of MACRA/MIPS and Part B Medicare reimbursement, one such fable making the rounds is not so harmless. Here, for your consideration and review, is one that needs to be squashed as soon as possible. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
Lessons Learned from EHR Integration of Medical Devices
By Kathy Inkley, Epic Project Manager & Analyst, Pivot Point Consulting
Twitter: @pivotpc
As the assigned project manager spearheading numerous large health system enterprise-wise medical device integration programs for over a decade, I’ve learned an essential lesson about EHR integration of medical devices. Data captured from thousands of heart monitors, ventilators, balloon pumps, and other bedside devices must be perfectly managed, seamlessly integrated, and standardized to each patient’s electronic health record (EHR) and then made accessible to multiple providers. Once synced properly across the care continuum, connected medical devices play a critical role in the transfer of near real-time, reliable data to EHRs that improve both the safety and quality of patient care. Continue reading on HITECHAnswers.net…
MACRA & MIPS: Why Aggressive Physicians Have a Tremendous Opportunity to Benefit
By David Spellberg MD, MBA, FACS, Independent Consultant and Strategist
Twitter: @DSpellberg
During the recent Radiological Society of North America conference at McCormick Place in Chicago, a session titled, “Will MACRA and MIPS Kill Your Practice?” pretty much summed up the consensus feelings of most physicians. But as usual, with chaos and disruption of the status quo, an opportunity is present for the prepared and willing. And now, given the flexibility of the program, it’s hard to formulate a good reason why providers would not elect to participate in the new payment program in 2017. More importantly, as long as providers participate at some level, they can avoid reimbursement penalties in 2019. Continue reading on RCMAnswers.net…
3 Ways to Take Control of Your Contracts
By Tim Comp, Regional Manager, Enterprise Solutions, ZirMed
Twitter: @zirmed
Leadership teams at hospitals and health systems are under constant pressure to grow their revenue, but at the same time, they’re stuck watching as margins shrink quickly. In 2014, 61.3% of hospitals reported a decrease in their profit margins over the prior year. One contributing factor is that costs are constantly expanding. According to Moody’s, hospital expenses are growing at a faster rate than their revenue. Continue reading on RCMAnswers.net…
Healthcare Enters the Mobile Age with Secure Messaging
By Linda Fischer, Senior Director of Product Solutions, DrFirst
Twitter: @DrFirst
I’m often asked if I miss working in a hospital. I spent 21 years as a hospital CIO and my job was more than just a job: it was part of my identity and a way of life. I love my new career – but yes, a part of me will always miss the hospital world, especially all the dedicated and compassionate people who are committed to the delivery of quality healthcare. On the other hand, I don’t miss certain aspects of my hospital job, such as 2:00 a.m. phone calls advising me that a system is down. Then there are a number of smaller, yet annoying things that I’m happy are no longer part of my daily world – like overhead paging, beepers and sticky notes. Continue reading on HIEAnswers.net…
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