Complying With HIPAA: Three Tips
Managing nurses, doctors, aides, and other medical personnel can present unique challenges on any given day. Dealing with people's health issues and relatives can raise all kinds of privacy concerns, usually covered by the federal HIPAA law that governs those issues. However, even with HIPAA in place, you and your staff could be at risk for improper sharing of medical records and information. Observe these privacy-related suggestions so you can stay compliant.
1-Train Staff
Most of the people working on your staff are fully aware of HIPAA and that they should never violate it. However, when pressed to discuss what HIPAA actually stands for and what the provisions are, they might not be able to explain it well. To keep your facility safe from violations, it's smart to offer orientation materials and regular training sessions about privacy and what your staff should be doing and how they should be treating the records of all your patients. Even if they learned this a while ago, you can ensure that you have given them fresh information and the ability to apply and retain what they're taught now.
2-Re-Evaluate Software
You have likely already switched over to software for managing medical records, medication schedules, and other facility tasks. It could be wise to re-evaluate the software you're using to determine whether it's the best to be using if you want to protect all patients. For example, is the information encrypted? Are virus scans regularly occurring? How often is the software updated to reflect the latest in HIPAA and other privacy laws? Look for HIPAA medical software that asks for two-step identification and has built-in buttons, questions and pop-ups that will enhance data protection. Contact a company like HIPAA Solutions to learn more about HIPAA software.
3-Discuss with Families
Sometimes, the greatest risk to the information of those you're treating lies with their own families. Remember that families typically have no interaction with HIPAA except for how it relates to their own relative. There are times when a well-meaning relative could ask staffers questions about someone's condition without understanding that no one can answer those questions without clearly violating privacy laws. Ensure frank discussions with each family at check-in about how you're protecting their loved one by staying aligned with HIPAA. Designate certain family members who can receive information freely.
Protecting everyone's privacy will make patients more comfortable with your facility and staff. Compliance will also protect your employees and facility from lawsuits and other problems. Choose software vendors that make it easy for your staff to protect information and data used on a regular basis; contact auditors to do regular checks on employees and software use.
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