Have you heard of the new HI TECH LAW? If you are a dental office, you will! Effective February 20, 2010 you will be required to have new
written laws in place that govern the way you handle Private Health Information(PHI), especially when using computers. If it sounds like a lot of work, it is… But read on for the simplest solutions to getting this bugger in place!...
What’s it all about?...
The healthcare industry is in the midst of a sweeping change. Internet information sharing has made Private Health Information (PHI) vulnerable to many indiscretions. From disgruntled employees stealing patient info and maliciously posting it on the internet, to hackers stealing insurance ID information and misusing social security numbers, the breaches are serious and astounding. The federal government has established immediate protective action for the way health records are managed. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH or “The Act”), of 2009 (ARRA), encourage the use of health information technology by endorsing several incentives. Electronic health records (EHR) systems among health care providers has increased but, this diminishes privacy and security regulations under (HIPAA).
Now this electronic health information sharing will be subject to much stricter guidelines. Penalties for HIPAA violations range from $100 to $50,000 per incident for businesses in non-compliance. And civil penalties (placed upon employee breaches) will be strict and hefty as well. Yes employers as well as employees have to be very aware and careful with PHI!
How can you get your Risk Management / HI TECH Law requirements in place properly and effectively? Well it can be crazy. Especially because this new law has many written components it can take several days to research, format and get into place. I’ve researched and developed HIPAA & OSHA training materials for years. And I love this one, because it is so user friendly: Dental Enhancement’s Risk Management made Easy™ packet is a 15 page downloadable PDF that is organized, easy to understand and even easier to fill-out to make it customized to your dental office. DentalEnhancements.com has a comprehensive and convenient packet with a fill-in-the-blanks format that will have you breathing a sign of relief.
Other important factors are price and who will implement this new protocol in your dental office. Some websites are charging upwards of $400 for this info: YIKES! The packet does take some time to research and write, make sure you choose one for under $100, anything more is highway robbery! As for who implements it in your office? Your Office Manager or the most “hi-tech savvy” employee will be your best bet.
HI TECH Law, its here for dental offices to embrace. Don’t delay, it’s the law….and it’s not too overwhelming, if you make the right choice. Make sure your HI TECH Law is comprehensive and user friendly!
