Mimic Data simplifies the data backup process and significantly shortens recovery time if a server fails, a disaster occurs, or data is corrupted. Mimic Data currently is available wholesale from resellers and from companies that provide outsourced IT support for healthcare organizations. Locating a reseller and evaluating Mimic Data's backup and recovery services is a worthwhile endeavor.
Test your knowledge of HIPAA: Is it permissible to leave voice messages on patients' home or work phones reminding them of appointments? Is it okay to use stickers on the outside of a patient's chart to remind us of his or her payer source? I need to take copies of documents home to finish up my clinical notes. Is this a violation of HIPAA?
The company, based in Prince George's County, MD, got hit in February with OCR's first civil money penalty for violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule-a $4.3 million tab that included $3 million for failing to cooperate with the agency's investigation. OCR determined Cignet acted with "willful neglect" and did not take action to correct the violations, which allowed the agency to impose the highest level of fines based on its tiered penalty structure.
HHS' OCR in February began using the new fine structure mandated by HITECH and handed one of the country's most prestigious hospitals, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, a $1 million penalty for a breach violation.
