Tag: healthcare tech hipaa

  • Bridging the technical gap, how technology can bring your dental practice into the future

    Bridging the technical gap, how technology can bring your dental practice into the future

    Dental practitioners are not technology novices, new technologies emerge all the time that help aid patients in the care of their teeth and in advancing restoration processes to combat the effects of tooth decay (just look at the use of lasers for repairing cavities).

    However, we see all the time that our dental practice owning clients will still be stuck in the past when it comes to the rest of their technology.

    If you’re a dentist, ask yourself if the following is true:

    1. Patient records aren’t as organized as you’d like them to be, you’re either still using the old tried and true (and also slow and cluttered) filing cabinet method, or you made the digital leap but don’t have a system for protecting confidentiality. Did you know dentists can also be subject to HIPAA rules?
    2. You have an office server but it’s ancient, well past the 5-year recommend life span for a server and running a copy of Windows server that’s no longer supported by Microsoft. Anything older than Windows Server 2019 is subject to the downsides of no longer being a supported operating system (including increased cybersecurity risks).
    3. Your own system and/or your employee’s workstations are sluggish, you often hear your office assistants tell patients “Sorry, this system is just so slow!” as they’re trying to check them out after a procedure or cleaning. This is frustrating for your employees, and your patients.

    It doesn’t have to be this way. We know as a dental office owner you’re no stranger to bringing on new technologies that can improve the way you do business. Making investments in the technology you use will make your dental practice more efficient, improve the safety of your clients’ records protecting you from liability, and help you accomplish goals you may have for growing your dental practice.

    Unlike the tools you use to practice your trade, you may be a little unsure where to start. Your clients come to you for your expertise in helping them protect their teeth because you’re a trusted expert. So why wouldn’t you reach out to an expert yourself as you navigate these investments in your business?

    The move from more analogue methods, such as the trusted filing cabinet system, may be intimidating, but think of the time it will save pulling up client records and the space you will reclaim in your office.

    New servers and workstations are large investments, but the downtime that occurs when these methods just fail (and they will) is substantial. Can you afford to be potentially stuck for weeks or even months if your office server that houses everything about your business suddenly goes kaput?

    We don’t want to sound gloom and doom, but help is out there to make informed choices about these issues before they become a problem.

    Valley Techlogic can help your dental practice; we have experience with the intricacies of your business and the concerns dental providers have when addressing these complex topics.

    We can help you bring your business into compliance with HIPAA, so as you grow your business your patients can feel confident their private information is protected at your practice. Below is a chart with some HIPAA rules specifically for dentists:

    Dentist need to follow HIPAA too

    If you’d like to learn more about Valley Techlogic can be a partner in technology for your dental practice, schedule a free consultation today.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley TechLogic, an IT service provider in Atwater, CA. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic.

  • Grab our 2021 HIPAA compliancy checklist and see how you can address HIPAA in the New Year

    Grab our 2021 HIPAA compliancy checklist and see how you can address HIPAA in the New Year

    HIPAA (which was enacted on August 21, 1996) is not a new topic for healthcare providers and those who handle Protected Healthcare Information (PHI), yet many healthcare providers still do not meet the target goals assigned by the program to prevent a data breach that could devastate their business.

    That may be due to the cost and complexity that surrounds meeting all of the necessary components of HIPAA. It’s estimated the actual costs of HIPAA compliancy are around $8.3 billion per year. For physicians, they can be looking to spend $35,000 a year to meet the technology requirements alone.

    When you look at the numbers, it’s easy to see why many healthcare providers would simply choose to roll the dice under the assumption there’s only a small chance their business would ever be affected by a breach or cyberattack. We’re here to tell you, that’s really not a good idea.

    Patient records and other PHI data is some of the most valuable data available on the Dark Web, with patient records averaging $250 to $1000 each. That means even a small doctors office may be sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of data to would be cyber criminals.

    These records are then used to create credible profiles for criminals such as drug traffickers, who use them to purchase prescription medications under your client’s identity (while also having your clients’ personal details, such as where they live). This means a breach would not only be a risk to your business but also equals a risk to your client’s safety.

    We know no provider would willingly put their client’s health and safety in jeopardy, it’s antithetical to the oaths that healthcare workers commit to as they launch into their chosen profession. Knowing the risks involved doesn’t make the hurdles associated with implementing HIPAA effectively in your business any less daunting. That’s why we’re here to help, below is the checklist with the six most effective measures you can implement in 2022 to bring your business to HIPAA compliancy.

    HIPAA Compliancy Checklist
    Click to view the full version.

    Many of those items are not difficult to implement even sooner, such as security awareness training (the number one cause of data breaches is human error).

    Reviewing the way your vendors handle PHI data and obtaining confirmation that they’re protecting things on their end is also as simple as making some phone calls.

    For other items, such as an annual HIPAA checkup it may be best to have a technology partner that can help you not only address your current HIPAA concerns but also a path forward that includes accessible goals for your business.

    If you’re in the Central Valley, Valley Techlogic can be that partner. Many of our clients are in the healthcare sector, and we have helped them establish their compliancy with HIPAA and have helped them maintain it going forward.

    We have over a decade of experience with the topic of cybersecurity and can apply our tools and knowledge directly to your business under one of our easy to budget for inclusive monthly plans. Schedule a quick call to learn more about how we can help your business be HIPAA compliant in the new year.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley TechLogic, IT service provider in Atwater, CA. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic.