HIPAA compliance isn't optional. The ideas in the resources below will help you meet your compliance obligations.
All of you in the healthcare industry know better than I how important HIPAA compliance is. The regulation ensures patient confidentiality and compliance ensures you avoid penalties, fines, and public embarrassment.
Compliance with any regulation is a tedious, detail-oriented task in which the smallest mistake can land you in big trouble.
Don't make compliance harder than it has to be.
As a provider of copiers and other office equipment, but also of document management and IT managed services, we have a broader perspective of compliance than many copier dealers. If you stop reading now, at least know this – you need to include your copiers (and network-connected laser printers) in your compliance and security strategy. If you don't, you'll have a giant hole in both.
This compilation of articles will highlight how copiers and document management software can aid your HIPAA-compliance efforts (for those of you who need to comply with other regulations, many of the same ideas and techniques apply).
9 Tips to Ensure Your Copiers Are HIPAA Compliant
If someone is selling you a HIPAA-compliant copier; they're lying to you. You must include any device through which patient information passes in your compliance plan, but a copier isn't compliant with HIPAA (or any other regulation) in and of itself.
HIPAA and Cloud Compliance
Cloud service providers are usually at LEAST as secure and able able to comply with regulations as small and medium businesses are able to do themselves. Not all cloud providers can pass an independent HIPAA audit, so look for one that can. However, the need to comply with regulations doesn't prevent you from using cloud services, like document management and online backup.
7 Essential Things You Need to Do to Be HIPAA-Compliant
For healthcare providers, compliance isn't optional. Here are the 7 essential things every company must do, at a minimum, to comply.
Are Your Digital Copiers Putting Your Practice at Risk for HIPAA Non-Compliance?
If you don't include your copiers and other network-connected devices in your security and compliance strategy, you have a potential problem. Here are five steps for keeping digital copiers – and your patient information – secure. Tip 1 – set strong passwords.
Want to Be HIPAA-Compliant? Include Your Digital Copiers in Your Strategy
Here's a post that reinforces what I've said about copiers and compliance. It explains why copiers are a potential issue when it comes to compliance and security.
Document Management: A Prescription to Secure Patient Information and HIPAA Compliance
Paper documents aren't inherently more secure than digital documents. In fact, they can be LESS secure. Document management offers many benefits for companies, including an easier way to be compliant with regulations.
HIPAA – From the Horse's Mouth
The US Department of Health and Human Services has a website dedicated to HIPAA-specific information. Breach notification procedures, security, compliance and enforcement, and more.
HIPAA Compliance Checklist
The HIPAA Journal has a handy checklist pulled from the regulation. It's an excellent ClifNotes version of what you need to know and a good place to get started.
HIPAA – The Basics
Provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, this 7-page PDF summarizes all of the important details in a quick, easy-to-read format.
