I.T. Solved Blog

We all know how easy it is to get distracted while surfing the ‘Net.  A related story here, a special offer there, and suddenly you’re running in a whole different direction from where you started. However, that seemingly innocuous link may prove to be a trap, divulging information you never intended to share. So it’s increasingly important you develop browsing habits that will help you improve the security of your online activities.

Below we've put together a list of simple recommendations that will significantly strengthen your browsing security.

How To Safeguard Applications Available At Your Caregivers’ Fingertips 

HIPAA Compliance and Data Security

Security

A study conducted by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) on senior living providers engaged in Health Information Exchange (HIE) found that senior living facilities continue to have issues with outdated technology solutions, and that some key personnel in these facilities remain unaware of the importance of the security and interoperability of PHI.

Mobile device theft constitutes a major source of HIPAA breaches in senior living communities. According to a PubMed study, most HIPAA breaches are caused by the theft or loss of mobile devices on which Protected Health Information (PHI) is stored. The online journal Perspectives in Health Information Management reports that mobile technology is revolutionizing healthcare. Providers who work in the senior living industry are increasingly using mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets at the point of care. This is good news for residents and staff alike, but it also means that administrators and employees must be extra-vigilant about sensitive patient data to make sure it cannot be compromised by stolen or lost devices.

If you haven’t invested in upgrading the technology in your communities the last few years, chances are the time has come. Technology has and continues to rapidly evolve, and current devices and applications can more cost-effectively and efficiently improve your business and leverage your resources to allow you to deliver better quality of care. 

It seems federal authorities have no plans to cut back or slow down on enforcing compliance of HIPAA rules in 2017. With the second payment of the year in the books at $2.2 million, it's imperative providers put their security measures under the microscope before it's too late.

We asked our C-suite to give us their top technology picks for 2017 for senior living providers. Our Consulting CIOs (CCIOs) work directly with clients and prospects every day, and the most common gaps in technology they see fall into security and mobility. Their following picks all provide cost savings while reducing the chance of receiving a hefty HIPAA fine.

Microsoft ended support to the Windows XP operating system in April 2014. While this may not necessarily put an organization at risk for HIPAA noncompliance, it does introduce several security risk factors that must be mitigated properly in order to maintain HITECH regulatory standards.

In 2011, The Joint Commission banned the use of short messaging service (SMS) text messages between physicians, licensed independent practitioners, and other healthcare providers. As announced by The Joint Commission in May 2016, it “has revised its position on the transmission of orders for care, treatment, and services via text messaging for all accreditation programs.”

With the rise in adoption of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, the need to make caregivers mobile is ever-increasing. Clinicians need to be able to document at the point of care – faster access and updates to, and sharing of, resident records will result in more efficient and effective care.