HIPAA compliance software is one of the tools that large and small businesses can utilize to reach their goals within a short time. Recent changes in HIPAA Compliance Solution guidelines have made businesses directly responsible for the proper storage and authorized sharing of patient health information. HIPAA compliant software is the best solution for businesses working toward reducing the risk of unauthorized patient disclosures.
Why Upgrade?
Upgrading your current software is necessary to avoid being fined but there are also some benefits that make it easier to track patient information. With HIPAA compliance software, itis simpler to prove your business is doing all it can to protect the personal health information of each client served by your business. HIPAA compliant software allows you to track and access patient information easily using one program. Businesses are now directly liable for how patient information is stored, shared and accessed. Software that complies with the Security Rule and the HIPAA Privacy Rule provides businesses with an affordable, comprehensive way of tracking electronic patient health information and proving compliancy after the recent changes to HIPAA guidelines.
The HITECH Act is one of the most important changes to HIPAA regulations and guidelines. The HITECH Act was designed to promote easy accessibility to personal healthcare information using electronic patient records. Businesses using HIPAA compliant software will be offered financial rewards if they provide proof of compliance with the HITECH Act. As patient health information moves from traditional paper files to electronic files, HIPAA compliancy becomes more important. Choosing the right software can mean the difference between being compliant and receiving incentives and failing to prove your business meets standards and being penalized.
Choosing Software
Most businesses have until the year 2015 to prove compliancy with the HITECH Act. HIPAA compliance software is one of the most effective ways to meet current standards and regulations. Software that is easy to use is a must for most businesses. Some features to look for include incident tracking and reporting with steps to take for remediation, online audits and inclusive training sessions to ensure your staff is able to use the software properly. Software that provides a streamlined method of tracking information shared with third parties is also important if you work with outside offices to provide care or for insurance purposes.
HIPAA compliance software should offer you a way to track authorization and disclosure forms and provide you with everything that you need to prove due diligence. HIPAA regulations state that all disclosures be formally authorized by the patient, which requires your business to show that the patient is aware of all information that is shared with a third party source. HIPAA guidelines state that patients should be aware of disclosures even when the disclosures aren’t documented.
A comprehensive disclosure tracking system is a must if you want to reach HIPAA compliancy. With a comprehensive disclosure tracking system, your business can show exactly where and how patient health information has been shared. HIPAA compliance software is an efficient way to meet today’s standards for protecting private patient health information from unnecessary disclosures and offering clients access to their personal health information in a convenient electronic form.