The digital age has opened up opportunities for the healthcare sector, everything from patient self management to improved data on outcomes. It will probably not come as a surprise that education and learning is one of the top divisions seeing innovative approaches to healthcare. This article highlights some of the areas where digital approaches to […]

Of all industries, medical care requires a constantly high attention to detail, efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness. That's why back-office hospital and clinic staff must be trained thoroughly and regularly on principles, policies, procedures and techniques. Frontline personnel cannot interact effectively with patients if back-office systems and trainings fall short. Here are several key areas where […]

It’s hard to believe that January 2017 has come to a close. It’s that time of year where, depending on where you live, you're celebrating your NFL or NBA team as winners. Unfortunately, where Litmos Healthcare is located we are, well, sports losers. We start the year with hope; hope that our teams will work […]

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced on Monday, November 28, 2016, that is was a victim of a sneaky phishing episode. And OCR published a clarification on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. The phishing email disguises itself as an official communication from OCR. It directs recipients to a non-governmental website marking a firm’s cyber security […]

The Internet has now been around for 40 years, with email as a core application. The Internet is used in many enterprises to enable computer networking and facilitate electronic communications. In the early years, the security of email communication was not an issue, but it surely is now! The use of the Internet and email […]

  The classical Triad of the Chinese tradition is the union of heaven, earth, and man. A loose interpretation of the Triad structure is the Master, the Red Pole (who oversees defensive and offensive operations), and the White Paper Fan, which provided financial and business advice, functioning as a liaison between the different units. Money, […]

In early October 2016, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) published an extensive guidance document on Cloud Computing that takes the form mostly of FAQs at http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/cloud-computing/index.html. Basically, it states that that covered entities (CEs) and business associates (BAs) must protect and secure protected health information no matter where it is stored or maintained … […]

Technology is grand; cellphones are like mini computers that fit in your pocket! A report by SilkRoad Technology found that 75% of healthcare employees check personal social media at least once a day on their mobile devices during working hours, and 60% access it multiple times. So as a professional working in the healthcare industry, […]

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) guidance: “FACT SHEET: Ransomware and HIPAA”[1] defines ransomware as: “Ransomware is a type of malware (malicious software) distinct from other malware; its defining characteristic is that it attempts to deny access to a user’s data, usually by encrypting the data with a key known only to the hacker who […]

The Office of Civil Rights' (OCR) second round of audits began on Monday, July 11, 2016, when selected covered entities received email notification letters on that day. The letter asks for a response within 14 days from the date on the letter (July 25, 2016) confirming your organization’s email information with a Yes or No. […]

I remember when fishing meant finding a quiet lake with my dad during one of our family camping trips, putting a disgusting worm on a hook and throwing a line out into the water. Aside from the worm stuff, it was serene and peaceful. Now, however, the sophistication of technology and the increase in criminals, […]

Motivation is the driving force behind online training success. However, figuring out what motivates your employees can be a major challenge, particularly if they are resistant to the online training process itself. In this article, I will shed light on the top 5 sources of employee motivation that you should consider when creating your next […]

Cybersecurity insurance is an insurance policy that is designed to help with the losses from a variety of cyber incidents, such as data breaches, business interruption or network damage. Each cybersecurity insurance policy, while similar to another policy, is never exactly the same as other insurance policies. Cybersecurity insurance is only one arrow in your […]

By Christine Kalish, Brittain-Kalish Group All of the graduations taking place this month caused me to consider what it takes to be successful as some of the new graduates move into roles and careers as healthcare managers. One of the key areas that those new managers will be moving into is Patient Access. This is […]

OCR’s interest in Business Associates is not new but they are much more active in this area lately. For example, Business Associates: Are directly responsible for their own security incidents and all HIPAA breaches per the HITECH Act; Will be audited by OCR per the HITECH Act; Are the subject of the OCR's April 2016 […]

By Chris Geraci, Marketing Coordinator Litmos Healthcare Some of you may remember the written letter, handwritten chart notes, having just five television channels (on a good day), and the TV remote was your youngest sibling. Now we text, tweet, travel, and transfer money with one click… and without a thought. You’d look over your shoulder if you […]

This Memorial Day I found myself thinking about my Dad, the Navy pilot, flying fighters in WWII. His cockpit was relatively simple if we think about it now, but it was complicated for 1945. However, he always knew his status each moment by having a clear and compact dashboard in front of him. When I […]

The HIPAA Security Rule at 45 CFR 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A) Risk Analysis requires a covered entity or business associate to “Conduct an accurate and through assessment of the potential risks an vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information held by the covered entity or business associate.” In the new Audit Protocols published […]

You might remember how epic it was to have cable for the first time—so many channels, regardless of the fact there was still nothing on. MTV still played actual music videos, not this “Big Brother” drivel that’s on now. Remember that first VCR? The size of a toaster oven and as heavy a microwave, but […]

By Chris Kalish, Brittain-Kalish Group There’s so much information available for fixing revenue cycle challenges, it’s hard to know what works best for your organization because most of your energy is spent just keeping the doors open. It’s true that optimal front end processes will make the life of your business office much easier. However, […]

Phase 2 of the proactive HIPAA Audits mandated by the HITECH Act of 2009 began in earnest in March 2016, when OCR sent out emails to survey a number of covered entities. The thumbnail sketch of the new audits includes the following information: 200 covered entities will be audited by December 31, 2016 All these […]

The word joint brings to mind working together “jointly,” for the greater good—an excellent example of most healthcare organizations. Individuals with various backgrounds and skillsets coming together to care for one individual. Sadly, many organizations are disjointed. The new Joint Commissions rulings complicates an already sometimes muddy set of regulations. Like most laws and rules, […]

As you may know, there are more than a few federal agencies that impact HIPAA and its compliance. Two or the most important are the Office for Civil Rights, known by its acronym OCR, and The Office of the National Coordinator, its acronym is ONC. OCR writes and enforces the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach […]

The billing and collection staff in most healthcare organizations often suffer the highest rate of turnover, yet they are imperative to the continued operation of your business. These staff members, sometimes called the patient access staff, don’t always have the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with your patients or interact in any way other than […]