Medical records permeate everything in health care − whether it is treating patients or defending an investigation. The current push for seamless access to these records, coupled with increasing pressures for medical record privacy and security, is creating new challenges for health care providers every day. With the legislation passed at the beginning of 2013, things are only getting more and more difficult for covered entities (CE) and business associates.
Ever-changing technology has allowed CEs and business associates to elevate their level of service and streamline processes. It also opens the door to potentially catastrophic mistakes. If the wrong person leaves an unencrypted cellphone or laptop at a public place and it disappears with nonredacted patient information, a health care organization may be out thousands or millions of dollars in addition to facing a public relations disaster. This sweeping legislation has been the culmination of steadily increasing federal and state investigations, and the final ruling means that patient rights and demands are at an all-time high.
If you or your organization is considered a HIPAA-covered entity, you are responsible for your liability as well as that of your business associates. If you are looking to get in compliance, have identified a possible internal compliance breach that you need to fix or are facing a possible a Florida Health and Human Relations/Office for Civil Rights hearing, we are here for you.