At HCPro's Accreditation Specialist Boot Camp, we continue to receive questions about standing orders, protocols, and verbal/telephone orders. With spring on its way by the time this article is published, I thought a fresh look at these topics would be in order (no pun intended). Let's try to dispel the myths and go straight to what the regulations say and what is best practice to meet them.
Q: Is there a sample risk analysis about how an enterprise or clinic might evaluate and determine if data-at-rest protection through encryption is reasonable and appropriate as defined in the HIPAA Security Rule?
Many of the facilities that once specialized in mental health services across the country have shut their doors in recent years, making it more likely than ever that hospitals will encounter patients with mental health needs in the emergency department (ED).
Hardly a week goes by in the healthcare field without another announcement of a regulatory change, delay, or new initiative. Technology innovation seems to outpace our ability to absorb change or install the latest update on various systems and software applications.
